{"id":6694,"date":"2023-07-26T19:32:46","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T19:32:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/mccann\/?p=6694"},"modified":"2023-07-26T19:32:47","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T19:32:47","slug":"out-of-state-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/mccann\/2023\/07\/26\/out-of-state-teachers\/","title":{"rendered":"McCann and Geiss Legislation to Expand Reciprocity to Out-of-State Teachers and School Counselors Signed by Gov. Whitmer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Senate Bills 161 and 162 passed both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>overwhelming\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em>bipartisan s<\/em>upport<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>LANSING, Mich.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>(July\u00a026<\/span><\/span><\/span>, 2023)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2014 Today<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Gov.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Gretchen Whitmer<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>signed legislation to address the teacher and counselor shortage Michigan schools are currently navigating.\u00a0The bills are sponsored by\u00a0<\/span>Sen. Sean McCann<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>(D-Kalamazoo) and\u00a0<\/span>Sen. Erika Geiss<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>(D-Taylor).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am grateful to Gov.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Whitmer for signing these bills to provide an easier path for qualified teachers and school counselors who are certified in other states to come work in Michigan schools,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Sen. McCann\u00a0<\/span><\/span>said. \u201cThese experienced professionals are on the frontlines of providing critical instruction and guidance to our students.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am thankful for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing into law Senate Bills 161 and 162 to expand reciprocity to out-of-state teachers and school counselors. This transformative legislation will reduce barriers for experienced, out-of-state educators and counselors who want to continue working in their fields in Michigan,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Sen. Geiss<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>It\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>no secret that Michigan has struggled to hire and retain educators in Michigan schools, then the shortage of professionals was only exacerbated by the pandemic. This expansion of reciprocity is essential to addressing the teacher shortage in Michigan by creating a clearer career pathway to experienced teachers and counselors previously hampered by former policies. As we celebrate the signing of Senate Bills 161 and 162, the work to improve education in Michigan continues.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>It\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>bills like these, that will help everyone make it in Michigan.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the Michigan Department of Education (<\/span><\/span>MDE<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span>, in 2011, more than\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>23,000 individuals<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>were enrolled<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in a teacher preparation program. In 2016, that number dropped to approximately 9,500. The most recent numbers have risen to 13,000 individuals, but those are still significantly below the 2011 numbers. The shortage of school counselors has<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>similar\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>trend<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>MDE also indicated that\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>over<\/span><\/span>1,000 teachers in each of the last five years have\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>been certified<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>outside Michigan and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>then<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>within the state. The department believes this number could be higher if the state could more easily hire more experienced candidates from other states.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The bill package to expand teacher and school counselor reciprocity includes:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n