State Education Board to Review New Teacher Standards

The State Board of Education is set to have its first look at proposed new teacher training standards at its meeting 4/9/2008.
The proposal would represent the first extensive review of the entry level standards since they were first adopted in August 1993, according to a memo to the board. The standards were updated in 1998 and 2002.
The new Professional Standards for Michigan Teachers, expected to be approved by the board in May, show substantial changes from the original standards, at least in that very few sections of the rules were left untouched in deleting and adding language.
The standards also show a stronger intent by the board, saying that teachers "must initially possess and be able to demonstrate continued growth in" the various standards. The old standards said an applicant for a teaching certificate "should have" the skills outlined.
Among the new requirements is that a teacher be able to develop instructional plans that line up with state requirements.