{"id":9976,"date":"2018-04-05T15:24:18","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T20:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/?p=9976"},"modified":"2018-04-05T16:29:13","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T21:29:13","slug":"michigan-governor-signs-bill-to-alleviate-teacher-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/press-releases\/michigan-governor-signs-bill-to-alleviate-teacher-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Governor Signs Bill to Alleviate Teacher Shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"
Governor Snyder signs bill to alleviate Teacher Shortage<\/strong><\/p>\n LANSING, MI (April 5, 2018) \u2013 Governor Snyder signed Senate Bill 727 today that will help increase the number of qualified teachers that could interview for teaching positions this year. The bill, authored by state Senator Phil Pavlov, will eliminate an unnecessary barrier in the teacher licensing process and increase flexibility for educator preparation programs. The legislature moved quickly to pass this bill knowing it could have an impact on the teacher shortage this fall.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat schools start with great teachers,\u201d stated Senator Pavlov Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. \u201cTo have great teachers we have to streamline the licensing process to facilitate recruitment of the best and brightest into our classrooms. Our students deserve the best and this new law will ensure more of Michigan\u2019s most talented professionals are there to inspire the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n The bill ensures that people who apply to become a teacher through the Michigan Alternate Route to Interim Teaching (MARITC) will no longer have to take the new SAT at a local high school to qualify for a program. Since prospective teachers earning certification through MARITC must have a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher, passing the SAT was an unnecessary step in the process that lengthened the time and increased the cost for certification. The bill also allows programs more flexibility with respect to the grade point average of prospective teachers who are offered admission.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want bright and knowledgeable teachers in Michigan classrooms and many schools have an immediate need to fill shortages in their districts,\u201d said State Superintendent Brian Whiston. \u201cThis new law will remove a current barrier to help those wanting to become inspired teachers, share their first-hand expertise with students, and help Michigan become a Top 10 education state in 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n