Legislative Updates
August 2018 Legislative Update
Career Counseling, Career Development, and Career Advising to Support Pathways:
Senate Bills 684 and 685 signed into Law would amend the Revised School Code to modify the requirements of an educational development plan and a school improvement plan, respectively, to include additional information on careers, learning activities, and other opportunities. Senate Bill 685 is tie-barred to Senate Bill 684. Each bill would take effect 180 days after it was enacted. https://tinyurl.com/ydz93spb
Stabenow Career Counseling Legislation Signed into Law
Congress passed a spending bill that included $1.2 billion for career and technical education. Stabenow’s legislation will allow school districts and community colleges to use some of this funding to recruit and retain career counselors who can put students on a path towards a rewarding career in manufacturing and the skilled trades as well as a four-year degree. School counselors play an important role in exposing students and parents to a full range of career and postsecondary options. Unfortunately, many communities across the country lack the resources to adequately staff schools with experienced counselors who can help students reach their full potential.
The Careers Act is part of the Senator’s New Skills for New Jobs agenda, which focuses on expanding career paths for every young person and filling the demand of Michigan businesses who are ready to hire.
Fewer than 3 in 10 Americans would encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career, despite the number of good-paying jobs available in professional and skilled trades. School counselors play an important role in exposing students and parents to a full range of career and postsecondary options. Unfortunately, many communities across the country lack the resources to adequately staff schools with experienced counselors who can help students reach their full potential. Michigan has the third-worst student-to-counselor ratio in the country at 729 to 1. The recommended average is 250 to 1.
The Careers Act (S. 2443) would give local school districts resources to hire additional school counselors. Funding would also help local school districts design comprehensive counseling plans for students starting in 6th grade. These plans would be designed with community stakeholders and not only include a focus on college preparation but also information on a wide range of career and technical education opportunities that would be made available for students and parents. States would apply for grants from the Department of Education on behalf of local communities. States receiving funding would provide a 20 percent match.https://t.co/GyO6HIIh9y
School Counselor Professional Development Standards Summary
Public Act 151, HB 4181 amends MCL.380 1233 and has an effective date of February 6, 2018. HB 4181 requires that beginning 2 years after the effective date February 6, 2020) of the amendatory act the department shall not renew an individual’s school counselor credential (MI teaching certificate with a school counselor NT endorsement and/or the School Counselor License) unless the department determines that, within the time period since the individual’s school counselor credential was issued or last renewed, whichever is most recent, the individual has completed:
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At least 25 hours of professional development approved by the department covering counseling about the college preparation and selection process and;
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At least 25 hours of professional development approved by the department covering career counseling. Career counseling includes, but is not limited to, exploration of military career options and the skilled trades as well as other careers and pathways that lead to industry credentials awarded in recognition of an individual’s attainment of measurable technical or occupational skills necessary to obtain employment or advance within an occupation. Professional development hours pertaining to career counseling shall include at least 5 hours covering military career options. https://tinyurl.com/yafsfg2l
The Marshall Plan 101
Key Objectives
Foster business and education collaboration: Develop partnerships between business and education to formulate innovation.
Evolve to competency-based learning: Provide tools and resources for schools to transition to a more competency-based education model, allowing students to learn at their own pace and earn industry-recognized credentials for mastery of courses.
Increase the number of individuals with stackable credentials and/or certificates for high-demand, high-wage occupations, such as Professional Trades, manufacturing, engineering, information technology and computer science, machine learning and artificial intelligence, mobility, healthcare and business.
Increase workforce planning: Balance the supply and demand for a qualified, diverse and adaptable talent pool.
Increase career awareness and exploration: Create awareness among Michiganders of the critical need for a skilled workforce and the opportunities for education that can lead to a high-demand, high-wage career pathway.