This Michigan bill updates high school graduation requirements by allowing students to earn math credits through approved career and technical education programs in trades like welding, construction, and engineering. It adds a new section to the state school code that recognizes formal CTE programs as equivalent to traditional math courses when they cover the same content as state assessments. The legislation also clarifies how personal finance courses can count toward multiple subject requirements, including math, arts, and foreign language credits. These changes directly affect public school districts and academies in Michigan by providing more flexibility in how students meet graduation standards while maintaining core academic expectations.
HB 4813 modifies Michigan's participation in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, amending sections of the 2008 law (MCL 3.1041 & 3.1042). The bill updates how Michigan schools and education agencies coordinate with other states to support military-connected students during school transitions. It directly affects military children, their families, and schools across participating states by adjusting administrative procedures for educational continuity. The bill is currently pending referral to the Committee on Rules after being reported with a committee recommendation.
This bill modifies the Michigan Trust Fund Act to establish a permanent Community District Education Trust Fund designed to help schools in specific districts that are currently prohibited from raising local taxes. The fund will be financed by depositing up to $617 million in tobacco settlement revenue starting in fiscal year 2017, with the money used to cover gaps in state funding for these districts. The legislation also sets a sunset provision requiring that any remaining balance in the fund be transferred to the state school aid fund after September 30, 2026.
This bill modifies Michigan's interim teaching certification process to establish stricter requirements for individuals seeking to teach without a full teaching certificate. It mandates that all candidates complete an approved alternative program with intensive training equivalent to at least 12 college credits, including coursework in child development, diverse learners, and classroom experience. A significant change is the prohibition of new interim certificates for special education teaching starting July 21, 2027, which requires applicants to complete an additional 32-credit specialized training program unless they already hold a full teaching certificate. The legislation also ensures that teachers holding these interim certificates receive intensive observation and coaching while they work toward earning a permanent Michigan teaching certificate.
This bill requires Michigan school districts and public academies receiving specific weighted funding to use those funds for student achievement, including literacy, math, and direct English language development instruction. To qualify for this aid, districts must administer standardized English proficiency tests, implement a data-driven multi-tiered support system for all grades, and report detailed information to parents and the state department about how the money is spent. The legislation also mandates that districts allow state audits of their records and permits up to 2% of the funds to cover administrative costs related to compliance. Importantly, the bill will only take effect if a companion bill establishing the specific funding formula is also passed into law.
This bill would require Michigan teacher preparation programs to mandate specific literacy training for all participants by September 2027. The legislation adds new requirements to the state's school code, making completion of LETRS training and comprehensive knowledge of the science of reading mandatory for graduation from these programs. Specifically, all individuals in teacher preparation programs must complete LETRS training, and those who teach literacy or reading methods courses must also demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of reading science. The bill applies to both traditional teacher preparation programs and alternative teaching programs, with the state department responsible for enforcing these new approval standards.
This bill requires K-5 teachers and literacy support staff in Michigan to complete specific professional training focused on reading and literacy instruction by the 2029-2030 school year. The legislation designates a single state-approved provider to deliver the training, which must cover evidence-based reading methods, assessment strategies, and a multitiered system of supports for addressing learning difficulties. School districts must report annual compliance data to the state department, which will publish public reports on implementation progress and recommend funding adjustments as needed. The training includes mandatory components on phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and data-driven decision-making, with phased implementation beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
HB 5630 allocates funding for Michigan's public K-12 schools and community colleges for fiscal years 2026-2027. It provides $18.37 billion for K-12 schools from the state school aid fund, general fund, and other education trust funds, plus $493 million for community colleges across 12 institutions. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for each community college's operations and includes provisions for unused funds to transfer to a stabilization fund. This omnibus appropriations bill directly affects all public school districts and community colleges statewide by setting their state funding levels for the next two fiscal years.
HB 5338 requires Michigan's education department to develop a brief, one-class-period presentation about organ, eye, and tissue donation - including information about the Michigan Organ Donor Registry - by January 1, 2027. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, public schools are encouraged to provide this presentation to students before they complete 9th grade. Parents or legal guardians may request their child be excused from the presentation without penalty. The bill does not mandate school participation but ensures the presentation is created in consultation with the state's organ procurement organization.
HB 5957 amends Michigan's Revised School Code to modify how nonrenewable temporary teaching certificates are handled and to clarify requirements for out-of-state educators seeking Michigan certification. The bill allows individuals holding valid teaching certificates from other states or countries to receive comparable Michigan credentials without passing state-specific exams if they have at least three years of successful teaching experience. It also establishes that these out-of-state educators must still meet the state's reading credit requirements to advance to professional certification, while ensuring the Superintendent of Public Instruction can deny certificates for fraud or criminal convictions. Additionally, the legislation mandates the development of specific subject area examinations and requires an annual report detailing the exam process and associated financial data.
