STAFF REVIEW PROCESS GUIDE
The Terms and Conditions of the charter contract (Article III, Section 3.6) authorizes the academy to employ or contract for personnel according to the position information outlined in Schedule 5 of the charter contract. Furthermore, the charter contract (Schedule 4, Oversight, Compliance and Reporting Agreement, Article II, Section 2.01) states that the Center may monitor and evaluate if the academy is staffed with qualified personnel and that appropriate criminal history record checks have been conducted.
Therefore, the Center conducts reviews of the academy‘s/educational service provider’s personnel records to ensure compliance with applicable law. Center staff will contact the academy to establish a review date. The scope of the review will include teacher and administrator certification, compliance with federal law, state and federal criminal history record information, as well as unprofessional conduct disclosure information. The timing of the reviews will be determined by the Center but will include prior notification to the academy. Please review the resources on this web page in order to better understand the scope of the Center’s staff review process.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Teacher
Each charter public school must provide evidence of a valid Michigan teaching certificate or permit pertaining to the current teaching position.
Administrator
The Center will review credentials to ensure all school administrators, as defined by Michigan Department of Education, meet the proper certification/permit requirements. Beginning September 1, 2018, school administrators in positions as defined by MCL 380.1246 will be required to hold a valid School Administrator Certificate an Experience-Based School Administrator Certificate, or work under a valid School Administrator Permit.
Those employed as administrators on or before January 4, 2010, must have an Experience-Based Administrator Certificate on file. Unlike other certifications, this certificate may not lapse. The rules surrounding this certificate requires administrators to maintain credit hours. If this certificate lapses, it can not be renewed and the administrator would be required to enroll in an administrator certificate program to obtain certification again.
Those hired after January 4, 2010, must either have an Administrator Certificate or a valid Administrator Permit on file. An Administrator Permit is required to cover an administrator while they are in the process of completing their program. This permit would need to be applied for every school year (up to three) until they have become certified. If the administrator does not complete their program within that window, they may not be in an administrator position until they have completed their program and have their certificate in hand.
Citations Related to Teacher Certification Michigan Compiled Laws
- Teacher Certification
- Administrator Certification and Continuing Education Requirement
- Administrator Certification Program
Michigan Department of Education Certification Resources
- Facts on Educator Certification
- Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS)
- Classes That Can Be Taught by Holders of Various Endorsements
- Michigan Educator Certification Status
- Record of Continuing Education Credits for School Administrators
CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION (CHRI) REQUIREMENTS
The academy must provide evidence of the following CHRI documentation on all academy personnel as required by law. The following documentation will be reviewed:
Livescan Fingerprint Background Request
The date the academy personnel signed the Livescan Fingerprint Request form must be completed prior to hire. This is a form used by a Noncriminal Justice Agency (NCJA) when the agency is requesting an applicant or individual to complete a state and federal fingerprint background check. For a copy of the Michigan State Police’s (MSP) form, please click HERE.
Certificate of Completion
Upon completion of the MSP new online training for their new Criminal History Record Internet Subscription Service (CHRISS), the academy will be issued a Certification of Completion, which will allow them access to this system.
CHRI Results
The academy must provide evidence of CHRI results. This information will be readily available in the MSP’s web-based portal immediately after being fingerprinted.
Michigan Waiver Agreement and Statement for Schools
Prior to submitting fingerprints to the Michigan State Police to conduct a CHRI background check, this form must be completed, signed and returned. By signing this form, it authorizes the dissemination of any state and national CHRI.
CHRI Waiver
If CHRI results from a previous school district are on file, the employee must have agreed in writing to allow the sharing of the results. In addition, the academy must have completed an ICHAT on the individual. For a sample template, please click HERE.
CHRISS User Agreement For Release of CHRI
A form used for a NCJA when the agency is requesting to receive CHRI for employment or licensing purposes (pursuant to an approved state or federal law). For a copy of the MSP’s form, please click HERE.
NCJA Local Agency Security Officer (LASO) Appointments
A form used for a NCJA that has access to CHRI is required to appoint an individual within the NCJA, who is the most knowledgeable about the agency’s CHRI process and is authorized to have access to CHRI. For a copy of the MSP’s form, please click HERE.
For further information please visit the Michigan State Police website. You will find a section for Audit information, Forms, Templates, Guidance, etc. issued by the MSP.
MCL Citations Related to CBC Requirements
- Criminal History Checks – All School Employees MCL 380.1230q
- State Criminal History Checks – MCL 380.1230
- FBI Criminal History Checks – MCL 380.1230a
- Borrowed prints – MCL 380.1230g
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT DISCLOSURE (UPC) REQUIREMENTS
The academy must provide evidence of the following UPC documentation on all academy personnel as required by law. The following documentation will be reviewed:
UPC Release Date
The date the academy personnel signed the UPC release form must occur prior to employment. Please note that the release form must contain the required Bullard-Plawecki Right-to-Know Act language. For a sample template, please click HERE.
UPC Request Date
The date the academy requested UPC information from the employee’s prior employer must occur prior to hire. For a sample template, please click HERE.
UPC Results or Date of Second Request
The UPC results/response from the prior employer or evidence that the academy has requested UPC information from the prior employer a second time.
MCL Citations Related to UPC Requirements
CENTER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Staff Roster – The school is asked to complete and submit to The Center for Charter Schools prior to the on-site review.
Certification Form and MDE Permit Report– The school is asked to submit to The Center for Charter Schools with copy of the school’s MDE Permit Report. These are required to be submitted through Epicenter.
If you need additional assistance, contact the Center at (989) 774-2100.