LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Lawmakers are working on bills to relieve teacher shortages and improve Michigan’s schools. Michigan’s most recent education report card showed worsening reading and math scores for young students. Lawmakers agree something needs to be done to help students and teachers, but not on how to do it.
A package of four bills passed in Michigan’s House of Representatives on Wednesday. The first two saw widespread support. They would make it easier for career and technical education programs to pay transportation costs for different school districts, and for teachers to get certifications for multiple subjects.
The other two were more controversial. House Bill 4150 would get rid of certificate and license fees from the department of education. Representative Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park) said she supports the effort, but those fees are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cost teachers pay to earn their qualifications.
“This whole package is being coached as a solution to help improve educational outcomes here in Michigan, which I would challenge that some of the bills actually do the opposite,” Weiss said. “Simply waiving $100 fee isn’t really fixing that issue.”
The last bill would create a new credential called a local teaching certificate. The new license can be granted to any person a school board labels as qualified, and allows them to teach in classrooms. Representative Carol Glanville (D-Walker) said running a classroom is about more than being an expert in your field, and changing certification requirements could mean bringing in individuals with no knowledge of pedagogy or classroom management.
Glanville said the teacher shortage needs to be addressed, but this bill is not the answer. She said the focus should be on paying teachers more to incentivize the career, and making sure every student has what they need to be successful.
