Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules

MOAHR-Rules@michigan.gov

AGENCY REPORT TO THE

JOINT COMMITEE ON ADMNINISTRATIVE RULES (JCAR)

1. Agency Information

Agency name:

Education

Division/Bureau/Office:

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Name of person completing this form:

Mary Fielding

Phone number of person completing this form:

517-241-6986

E-mail of person completing this form:

FieldingM@michigan.gov

Name of Department Regulatory Affairs Officer reviewing this form:

Mary Fielding

2. Rule Set Information

MOAHR assigned rule set number:

2023-78 ED

Title of proposed rule set:

School Social Worker Certification Code

3. Purpose for the proposed rules and background:

On October 8, 2019, the State Board of Education adopted standards for the preparation and practice

of school social workers, who provide services to students with disabilities whose individualized

education programs require social work services. The standards were developed by a stakeholder

group that included representatives of P-12 schools, educator preparation institutions, and

professional organizations. The general purpose of the rules is to implement the strong

recommendation of the stakeholder group that the Department of Education develop a school social

worker certificate to replace the current “approval” letters issued by the department to allow the

employment of individuals as school social workers. The proposed rules describe a certification

process that is similar to the process in place for other professional educators, thus formally

recognizing the professional status and vital importance of school social workers.

4. Summary of proposed rules:

MCL 24.242 and 24.245

Agency Report to JCAR-Page 2

The general purpose of the proposed School Social Worker Certification Code rules is to provide a

pathway into the profession, along with temporary staffing options, by replacing the system of

approval of school social workers with a certification and permit process for these educators who

provide social work services to students with disabilities in accordance with individualized education

programs requiring those services. The new process will be similar to the process in place for other

professional educators.

Online Public Written Comment Tool: https://mde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_73asZyiBl1OCezk

5. List names of newspapers in which the notice of public hearing was published and

publication dates:

Detroit Free Press – March 22, 2024

Grand Rapids Press – March 26, 2024

Marquette Mining Journal – March 23, 2024

6. Date of publication of rules and notice of public hearing in Michigan Register:

4/1/2024

7. Date, time, and location of public hearing:

4/9/2024 01:00 PM at 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Michigan Library & Historical Center, 1st Floor Forum or

http://tinyurl.com/5cpy55vu , 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48915 or

http://tinyurl.com/5cpy55vu

8. Provide the link the agency used to post the regulatory impact statement and cost-benefit

analysis on its website:

https://ARS.apps.lara.state.mi.us/Transaction/RFRTransaction?TransactionID=1505

9. List of the name and title of agency representative(s) who attended the public hearing:

Michigan Department of Education Office of Educator Excellence:

Krista Ried, Manager, Certification Unit

Scott Wertheim, Technician, Strategic Implementation Unit

Katie Schmiedeknecht, Analyst, Data and Accountability Unit

Beatrice Harrison, Higher Education Consultant, Certification Unit

Allison Sandbrook, Technician, Certification Unit

10. Persons submitting comments of support:

Sara Berlin

Candice Cook

Rebecca Smith

Diana Wheatley

11. Persons submitting comments of opposition:

MCL 24.242 and 24.245

Agency Report to JCAR-Page 3

Shelly Bailey

Alexandra Ball

Sara Berlin

Tracy L. Bullock

Carolyn Clark

Candice Cook

Stephanie Conflitti

Gabrielle L. Fessender

Alonda Fletcher

Maia Gleason-Teener

Cari R. Griffin

Maureen Gumbel

Kristina M. Hughes

Ellen Karafa

Jennifer Makowski

Beth Marra

Sarah Mignano

Maleah Montney

Elizabeth G. Niedowicz

Christian D. Olson

Sarah Prendergast

Carly Salisbury

Meranda Schroeder

Melissa Smith

Rebecca Smith

Alexandra Stieve

Holly K. Triestram

Karla Vandenberg

Kristen Whiston

Steven P. Whitmore

Valerie Zager

12. Persons submitting other comments:

Alexandra Ball

Holly Triestam

Karla Vandenberg

Diana Wheatley

13. Identify any changes made to the proposed rules based on comments received during the

public comment period:

Name &

Organization public hearing

Comments made at Written

Agency Rationale Rule number

for Rule Change & citation

and Description changed

of Change(s)

Comments

Made

1

Carolyn Clark

“Regarding the

The Department of R 340.1001

MCL 24.242 and 24.245

Agency Report to JCAR-Page 4

suggestion that

Education (MDE)

SSW will need to recognizes a

earn and pay for possible lack of

an additional 75 understanding

clock hours of

continuing

among school

social workers

education, this is about what are

concerning to me education-related

since there are

rarely, if ever,

professional

development

professional

learning (ERPL)

hours and what a

state continuing

offerings within education clock

the district that

are relevant to

school social

hour (commonly

known as SCECH)

is. Adding the

workers. While definition of state

we can always continuing

look for offerings education clock

in the summer, it hours will add

may be difficult clarity and help to

to meet this

alleviate this

standard during confusion. An

the school year. extensive list of

There are no

substitutes to

approved SCECH

sponsors is

serve in our roles available on the

if we are away

from our

buildings like

there are for

MDE website.

Many SCECHs

are available for

self-selection at no

teachers, so our cost to educators.

work essentially

piles up on days With further

in PD.

respect to the

Thanks for your ERPL

considerations!” requirement, as

explained in the

request for

rulemaking, 1

purpose of the

amendments is to

recognize the

professionalism

(including the

necessity and

MCL 24.242 and 24.245

Agency Report to JCAR-Page 5

value of

professional

development) of

school social

workers and to

align their

credential

requirements with

those of other

professional

educators (i.e.,

teachers, school

administrators,

school

psychologists, and

school

counselors).

Renewal of other

certificates

requires 150 ERPL

hours every 5

years. For school

social workers, the

continuing

education required

to retain a valid

social worker

license issued by

the department of

licensing and

regulatory affairs

(45 hours every 3

years) accounts for

one-half of these

150 hours.

Requiring school

social workers to

have 75 ERPL

hours (which can

include SCECHs)

to maintain their

certification

therefore brings

them into the

maintenance

process applicable

MCL 24.242 and 24.245

Agency Report to JCAR-Page 6

to all professional

educators.

14.Date report completed:

6/18/2024

MCL 24.242 and 24.245