Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on June 30, 2005, to require the state Board of Education to create a voluntary school administrator certification program, and develop requirements and endorsements for the voluntary certificate. The certificate would give evidence of having met certain professional and education requirements, but would not be required to obtain or hold a school administrative position

The vote was 37 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 not voting

(Senate Roll Call 437 at Senate Journal 83)

Click here to view bill details.

These things always start out voluntary, but add a fee and soon its mandatory

When I finished my Ed Leadership Masters back in 1985 they said that I would be required to obtain a Administrator certificate. I paid the fee and received the certificate and within a year they said that they were no longer going to issue the certificate. This really makes no sense.

Making this certification voluntary does nothing for the students, teachers, taxpayers, and schools of this state. MI is still the only state with no certification for administrators with this bill. This bill makes sense if it demands that all administrators our certified.All they had to do was make it equal to NCA standards.

So what. Big deal. " A bill approved and signed into law would require the State Board of Education to develop a voluntary school administrator’s certification standards. Senate Bill 673 would allow certification for superintendents, school principals, assistant principals and other administrators whose primary responsibility is administering instructional programs. Michigan is the only state that does not require certification for school administrators. The law is a voluntary program, but it would be to an administrator’s benefit to be certified. Allowing for voluntary administrator certification would provide more consistent leadership in schools and improve public confidence in school leaders." The Law is a voluntary program. How consistent with other school laws. If you feel like following the law, go ahead. If you don't feel like following the law, go ahead.

I completed my masters and specialists degrees from Eastern Michigan University. Both degrees completed prior to 2001. According to the state, I should be eligible for Central Office Certification. However after submitting the paperwork for K-12 Administrator, Central Office, and Superintendency I only received a K-12 adminstrator certificate. Another paperwork snafu. Eastern says the state hasn't approved the programs. The state says Eastern needs to submit the paperwork. Way to go Michigan! Everyone loves to jump through hoops on a voluntary basis.