STUDENT TEACHER STIPEND; INCLUDE PRE-K S.B. 995:

SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

IN COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 995 (as introduced 9-11-24)

Sponsor: Senator Stephanie Chang

Committee: Education

 

Date Completed: 10-22-24

 


CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the State School Aid Act to allow a student teacher completing a student teaching requirement at a qualifying public preschool program to receive payment under the MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend Program.

 

The bill would take effect October 1, 2024.

 

For Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025, the State budget allocates $30.0 million from the State School Aid Fund and $20.0 million from the Educator Fellowship Public Provider Fund to the MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend Program. These funds must be paid to eligible educator preparation programs (EPPs) for payments to eligible student teachers working in a district. The bill would extend program eligibility to student teachers working in qualifying public preschool programs in the State.

 

The following provisions, which currently apply to student teachers working for school districts and to EPPs, also would apply to student teachers working for qualifying public preschool programs and to qualifying public preschool programs.

 

To receive a stipend, a student teacher must be 1) admitted to an eligible EPP; 2) working toward a teacher certification; 3) participating in required student teaching coursework; and 4) maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Student teaching coursework must include regular placement in a district where the student gains real-world, first-hand experience working in a classroom, teaching students, engaging in the day-to-day activities of a certified teacher, and working daily under the guidance of a certified teacher.

 

A student teacher also must complete an application in a form and manner prescribed by the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). The application must include the district in which the individual is working and include certification by the district and the individual's eligible EPP that the student is working as a student teacher. If the individual's eligible EPP is not provided by a public institution of higher education, the district in which the individual is working must also provide an assurance that the district will forward any payment received from MiLEAP to the individual's eligible EPP. If an individual is employed by a district as a teacher of record, the individual is not eligible for payment.

 

Currently, MiLEAP must pay each eligible EPP an amount not to exceed $9,600 per academic semester for each eligible student teacher working in a district. If the individual's eligible EPP is not provided by a public institution of higher education, MiLEAP must transmit payment to the district in which the individual is working as a student teacher. That district must forward the amount received to the individual's eligible EPP.

 

MCL 388.1627c Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider

 


FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State or local units of government. The provisions of the bill would allow a student teacher to receive a stipend if the student teacher completed a student teaching requirement at a qualifying public preschool program, in addition to a district, as is currently allowed. The amount of the stipend paid to student teachers in preschools would be the same as is currently paid to student teachers in a district, so there would be no change in the total cost to the State. Also, there is no reason to believe that the change would result in more students enrolling in teacher preparation programs, so the total cost to the State for stipends in a given year would not change.

 

Fiscal Analyst: Ryan Bergan

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.