Michigan lawmakers are debating a bill that would let Michigan teachers earn their certificate without having to take the state test if they’ve been in the classroom for at least three years.
State Senator Joe Bellino of Monroe, who wrote the legislation, says the exemption is already available for out-for-state teachers, which isn’t fair to Michigan teachers.
“To have the bureaucracy stop our own teachers, but let out-of-state teachers do that,” Bellino said. “It doesn’t surprise me at all. In Lansing, the bureaucracy will do the same thing over and over again until you show that it’s real stupid and they’re making a mistake, and then they might change it. And so you have to work hard on it.”
Bellino says the bill will help tackle Michigan’s teacher shortage.
