Educationally Speaking - Issue 10 | December 2020

Michigan Department of Education sent this bulletin at 12/15/2020 10:20 AM EST

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Issue 10 | December 2020

Be sure your email address is up-to-date in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System to receive important notifications regarding YOUR certificate.

Please see the archived newsletters for other important information that affects licensure.

Workforce Resource for Superintendents

The fall edition of our Superintendent’s Workforce Guide is available here. Within the fall edition you will find guidance on topics related to:

Educator Certification, Placement, and Permits
Professional Learning
Educator Evaluation Systems

Keep an eye open for the winter edition to be released in February 2021.

Educator Evaluation Highly Effective Exemption

In absence of a legislative amendment, this year’s requirements remain:

If an educator’s evaluation was skipped in 2019-20 due to three consecutive highly effective ratings, or an educator received a “No Eval Emergency Order” rating in 2019-20, they are legislatively required to be evaluated in 2020-21.
If a teacher received their third consecutive highly effective rating during the 2019-20 evaluation cycle, this teacher would be eligible for their biennial “skip” year during the 2020-21 academic year, at the district’s discretion.
If an educator received a highly effective in 2017-18 and 2018-19 and a “No Eval Emergency Order” in 2019-20 AND THEN receives a highly effective in 2020-21, the evaluation for 2021-22 can be skipped (i.e., the “No Eval Emergency Order” does not interrupt three otherwise consecutive ratings.)

If a legislative change to educator evaluation is introduced, the Michigan Department Education (MDE) supports allowing a “skip” year in 2019-20 due to consecutive highly effective ratings to carry forward to 2020-21 if a “No Evaluation Emergency Order” was received in 2019-20.

Check back monthly to receive updates on the status of educator evaluation for 2020-21.

New Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Testing Centers are Opening

Do you or someone you know need to take the MTTC to earn a substitute permit, teaching certificate, or endorsement? Evaluation Systems of Pearson has approved seven new testing centers to offer the MTTC. Four are in the Detroit metropolitan area, two are in Grand Rapids, and one is in Newberry.

T. Labs of Garden City has over 500 open testing appointments in December and over 1500 each in January and February 2021.

Use the seat availability tool on the MTTC website to look for open appointments: http://www.mttc.nesinc.com/.

It's Recertification Season!

Schools/Districts: Tis’ the season to review educator credentials! Schools/districts should begin the annual review of staff credentials for 2021. Remind educators with a credential expiring June 30, 2021 to log into the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) to begin updating account information. Certificates can be renewed beginning January 1 without any loss of validity! Remember, districts can face costly state-aid deductions for employing educators without appropriate credentials.

Educators: Work with your employer to ensure you are ready for the 2021-2022 academic year! Log into the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) to check the status of a credential and professional learning to proactively prevent an accidental lapse. While there is no state issued or legal penalty to an educator for a lapsed credential, educators are responsible for maintaining valid Michigan credentials for employment and may face district contract issues for lapses. Check out the Free and Low Cost Professional Learning for Certificate Renewal and Progression regularly for new professional learning opportunities.

Learn more about Federal Educator Loan Forgiveness.

Check out the latest blogs from our Michigan Teacher Leader Advisory Council.

Michigan Teacher of the Year, Owen Bondono’s blog:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/MTOY_Owen_December_Meemic_Blog_709423_7.pdf

Region 4 Regional Teacher of the Year, Barb Huston’s blog:

www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/That_Was_Then_This_Is_Now_Blog_Huston_December_Meemic_blog_708983_7.pdf

Upcoming Opportunities - Professional Learning and Events

View the Free and Low Cost Professional Learning for Certificate Renewal and Progression regularly for new professional learning opportunities.

Five minutes for equity: Teaching Diversity in the Classroom

Watch the video.

Ethics and Educators Blog – The Emerging Playbook: Reexamining Professional Obligations in a Virtual Classroom Part Four

"Today’s classrooms do more than house neat rows of desks facing a blackboard. They are sensory rich environments that affirm and inspire while developing a safe and inclusive space – posters, quotations, artwork, banners, and meaningful objects all create a learning and living aesthetic for students and educators alike.

“And just as importantly, classroom décor exhibits and champions certain values.

“By simply creating and curating the classroom space, teachers become the arbiters of those values and how they are messaged…” Read more.

Creating Inclusive Workplaces for Black Teachers

Regional Education Laboratory (REL) Midwest’s latest video explores why Black teachers leave the teaching profession and shares best practices for creating and sustaining inclusive work environments to help retain Black teachers. The video features experts in the field as well as educators and district leaders in Illinois.

Watch the video.

Regional Education Laboratory (REL) COVID-19 Resources to Support Teachers

Support educators during the pandemic with the following resources from the REL Program’s COVID-19 Evidence-Based Resources page. This page, which covers a range of topics related to teaching and learning, is updated regularly.

REL Northeast & Islands FAQ: What Procedures Do Districts or States Have in Place for Teachers That May Be at High Risk for COVID-19?
REL Northeast & Islands FAQ: What Strategies Are States Considering to Address a Possible Increase in Demand for Substitute Teachers?
REL Pacific blog post: Reflecting on Teacher Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic
REL Pacific webinar: Adapting Educator Professional Learning to a Virtual Environment

Click here for savings today!

Question:

"Due to the pandemic, many trainings have been canceled. Are school counselors going to be given an extension on the career, military and college hours (50) they need for renewal?"

Answer:

At this time, there is no provision in legislation for the Michigan Department of Education to waive the legislative requirement for school counselors to earn 50 hours of professional learning related to career, military and college advisement. Check back monthly for updates related to changes to legislative requirements.

Question:

"I'm graduating in December, couldn't get an MTTC test appt this summer, and just had my appointment canceled. My friend got a 1 year certificate in July without the MTTC. Can I do that? I'm worried!"

Answer:

At this time, there is no provision in legislation for the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to issue one year certificates for individuals that haven't successfully completed testing. Use the seat availability tool on the MTTC website to look for open appointments: http://www.mttc.nesinc.com/. MDE also recommends using test sites that are not affiliated with a college or a university that may need to close unexpectedly due to COVID-19.