Education (Teachers)

in committee · Michigan · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 315: Education: financing; sinking funds to be used for teacher housing; allow. Amends secs. 11a, 1141, 1212 & 1351a of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.11a et seq.).

Senate Bill 315 amends Michigan's revised school code. The bill specifically allows school districts to use their existing sinking funds for the purpose of providing housing for teachers. This expands the permissible uses of these funds, which are typically designated for capital projects like construction or repairs. The change offers school districts a new mechanism to finance housing options for their teachers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows sinking funds for teacher housing, directly supporting educator retention through housing access and expanding funding mechanisms for staff needs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Teachers

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in committee · Michigan · House Jun 26, 2025

HB 4688: Education: teachers and administrators; instruction and professional development on cultural competency; provide for. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1526c.

HB 4688 requires Michigan public schools to provide cultural competency training for all educators and school staff starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The state must develop resources covering diversity, cultural identity, historic contributions of multiple cultural groups, and implicit bias (with expert input) by June 2027. Educators must complete this training as part of professional development, while non-educator staff must receive similar training but are exempt from history-focused content. This bill directly affects all public school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies in Michigan.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates cultural competency training for educators as part of professional development, strengthening teacher preparedness and curriculum inclusivity per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Aug 12, 2025

SB 493: School aid: local districts; grant program for school districts to maintain smaller classroom sizes; provide for. Amends 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1601 - 388.1896) by adding sec. 31c.

SB 493 creates a $65 million grant program for Michigan school districts to reduce K-3 class sizes, targeting high-need areas (Opportunity Index Band 4+). Districts must use at least 30% of their existing state aid funds to support these small classes, with average class sizes capped at 17 students (max 19 per class). The program prioritizes geographic diversity and specifically allocates funds to Muskegon Heights, Benton Harbor, Flint, and Wayne-Westland school districts for the 2025-2026 school year. Funds are a temporary two-year initiative, with unspent money carrying over to 2026-2027 to lower K-3 class sizes by 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $65M grant program using state funds to reduce class sizes, increasing educational budget allocation and requiring districts to use existing state aid for this purpose.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $65M grant to reduce K-3 class sizes in high-need districts, requiring 30% state aid use for smaller classes (max 17 students).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Michigan · House Sep 11, 2025

HB 4853: Individual income tax: credit; credit for expenditures by school teachers and administrators for school supplies; provide for. Amends 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.1 - 206.847) by adding sec. 285.

HB 4853 creates a 50% tax credit for Michigan teachers and school administrators who spend on classroom supplies, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The credit covers up to $2,000 for single filers or $4,000 for joint filers, directly benefiting educators in public schools, public school academies, or state-approved nonpublic schools. Eligible supplies include books, technology, art materials, lab equipment, and classroom projects. Any credit exceeding the taxpayer’s annual tax bill cannot be refunded. This policy change aims to offset out-of-pocket expenses for educators directly involved in classroom instruction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesHB 4853 provides tax relief (50% credit up to $2k/$4k) for teachers' classroom expenses, directly reducing tax burden on middle-income educators per tax code amendment.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates 50% tax credit for teachers' classroom supply expenses, reducing out-of-pocket costs and directly supporting educator resources per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SB 379: Education: teachers and administrators; performance evaluation systems for public school teachers and school administrators; modify. Amends secs. 1248, 1249, 1249a, 1249b & 1280f of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1248 et seq.) & adds secs. 1250a, 1531l & 1531m. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0380'25

SB 379 modifies Michigan's school code to require school districts to base personnel decisions (like layoffs, recalls, or hiring) on teacher effectiveness measured by the existing performance evaluation system, rather than length of service or tenure alone. It specifically prohibits retaining teachers rated "ineffective" over those rated "minimally effective," "effective," or "highly effective," and mandates that individual performance - especially student growth - be the primary factor. School districts must adopt transparent procedures for these decisions, considering factors like teaching skills, classroom management, and contributions to school performance. The bill directly affects public school teachers, administrators, and school districts in Michigan, changing how staffing changes are handled. It also limits remedies for teachers challenging decisions to reinstatement only, excluding financial damages.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires performance-based teacher evaluations prioritizing effectiveness over tenure, aiming to improve educational quality by retaining effective educators and removing ineffective ones.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Michigan · House May 13, 2025

HB 4152: Education: other; certain requirements for the approval of teacher preparation institutions; create. Amends sec. 1531e of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1531e).

HB 4152 requires Michigan teacher preparation programs (and alternative teaching programs) to include specific training content starting September 30, 2027, to gain or maintain state approval. The bill mandates instruction on dyslexia characteristics, consequences, instructional adjustments, and multi-tiered support systems (MTSS), with additional evidence-based reading methods required for programs preparing teachers in reading, language arts, or special education. Programs focused on math or science must develop curricula in consultation with subject-matter experts. These requirements apply directly to institutions training future educators, with waivers possible for non-relevant programs under specific conditions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates teacher training on dyslexia and evidence-based reading methods to improve educator preparedness and student support in K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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passed both · Michigan · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 4153: Education: teachers and administrators; district-level certifications; provide for. Amends secs. 501, 521, 551, 1231, 1233, 1311b, 1526, 1535a & 1809 of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.501 et seq.) & adds sec. 1531l.

HB 4153 creates a new "local teaching certificate" pathway for educators in Michigan. It amends the Revised School Code to define a "certificated teacher" as including individuals holding either a standard teaching certificate or this new local certificate (under added Section 1531l). The bill directly affects teachers seeking certification through local school districts or authorized entities, rather than the standard state-issued process. Key provisions establish that local certificates must meet state standards but can be issued by districts or approved entities, expanding certification options for schools. This change modifies existing sections (501, 521, 551, etc.) to incorporate the new local certificate type into teacher certification requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates alternative certification pathway for teachers, expanding access to teaching roles without state oversight, supporting educator recruitment and flexibility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed both · Michigan · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 4151: Education: teachers and administrators; endorsement requirements; modify. Amends sec. 1531 of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1531).

HB 4151 modifies Michigan's teacher certification rules, primarily allowing experienced educators from other states to obtain Michigan teaching licenses without retaking certain exams if they've taught successfully for at least three years in their home state. It maintains existing requirements for new teachers to complete reading competency training (including diagnosing reading disabilities) before advancing to professional certification. The bill also requires the education department to report annually on exam fees and develop standardized tests for teacher certification, while keeping the same reading proficiency standards for Michigan-certified teachers. These changes directly affect teachers seeking certification or additional endorsements in Michigan, especially those transferring from other states or countries.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEases certification for out-of-state teachers to address shortages while maintaining reading competency requirements, strengthening educator workforce access and retention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed both · Michigan · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 5081: Education: special education; at least 1 teacher trained in Orton-Gillingham approach principles; require each school district to employ. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1253.

HB 5081 requires Michigan school districts, intermediate districts, and public school academies to employ at least one teacher trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach by the 2026-2027 school year to support students with dyslexia. This teacher must have completed training meeting International Dyslexia Association standards, which emphasizes multisensory reading instruction through phonemic awareness, phonics, and structured skill-building. Schools must also ensure these teachers receive at least 10 hours of annual professional development focused on dyslexia support. The bill directly affects all public school entities in Michigan and aims to improve specialized reading instruction for students with dyslexia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates trained teachers for dyslexia support in special education, advancing student access to specialized instruction per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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