For many years, the State of Michigan has required that elementary teachers have a minimum of 6 semester credits of reading coursework and secondary teachers have a minimum of 3 semester credits of reading coursework. Elementary teachers are required to have a course that addresses reading in the elementary content areas as well as a reading pedagogy course. Secondary teachers are required to have a course that addresses reading in the content area. Teachers who completed their initial teacher preparation program in Michigan after 1988 have met this requirement. However, teachers who completed their initial certification program before the fall of 1988, or completed it in another state, may not have completed the coursework required in Michigan. This coursework must be completed before a teacher can be recommended for the Michigan Professional Certificate.
- Elementary teachers who have not met Michigan’s original reading requirement may be required to take TE 842: Advanced Methods of Elementary School Reading (3 credits).
- Secondary teachers who have not met Michigan’s original reading requirement may be required to take TE 843 (Reading, Writing, and Reasoning in Secondary School Subjects).
Michigan’s Current Reading Requirement, Effective July 1, 2009
Since July 1, 2009, the State of Michigan has required 3 additional semester credits of reading coursework for both elementary and secondary teachers who wish to advance to the Professional Certificate. Since July 1, 2009, elementary teachers who apply for the Professional Certificate must have a total of 9 approved credits in reading, and secondary teachers who apply for the Professional Certificate must have a total of 6 approved credits in reading. Since Summer Session 2007, the MSU course approved to meet the new reading requirement for both elementary and secondary teachers has been TE 846: Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners (3 credits). Often, this course can be incorporated into a master’s degree program in education. There are several enrollment options for teachers who wish to complete the course as a non-degree student. For information about course offerings, please see MSU’s Schedule of Courses.