Program Administration and Staffing
Gains in a young child’s development are increased when the child has meaningful relationships with responsive adults who have a sophisticated understanding of early childhood education. For this reason, it is critical that GSRPs hire qualified teachers.
If a program is unable to hire a qualified candidate for either a Lead or Associate Teacher position following extensive staff recruitment efforts as described below, the most qualified candidate may be hired with a compliance plan. When a subrecipient hires staff who are not fully credentialed, the subrecipient and the ISD are in noncompliance status until credentialing is completed.
Staff recruitment efforts must be documented in local administrative files. Recruitment efforts can include the following: identification of the search and screen committee, including individuals outside the hiring unit to serve as committee members, and should minimally include hiring procedures, position descriptions that include GSRP credentialing requirements, evidence of advertisement(s), form letters and notices, evidence of journals, publications, electronic bulletin boards, institutions, departments, professional organizations, meetings, and personal and professional networks to which advertisements and notices are sent (or offices/individuals with whom contacts are made).
Compliance plans for staff who are not fully credentialed are submitted annually to the ISD and reported within the Staff Information Report to MiLEAP. The compliance plan must outline educational training and include an anticipated compliance date within required deadlines stated below. It must be signed by the program’s ECS, the ISD Early Childhood Contact (ECC), and the staff member. Individuals hired on a compliance plan must complete the plan within three years.
It is the responsibility of the ECS to monitor the plan throughout, to assure compliance will be met within the appropriate number of years from the date of hire with GSRP. MDE’s Office of Educator Excellence provides a list of approved early childhood education endorsement programs in Michigan.
Compliance plans for staff who are not fully credentialed are kept on file at the ISD.
If an existing program demonstrates to the ISD that it is unable to hire qualified lead teachers, persons who have significant but incomplete training in early childhood education, or child development, OR who have five or more years of experience as a GSRP associate teacher, Head Start, or licensed childcare center may be employed. Individuals hired in 2023-24 or after with at least 3 years of experience and significant training in early childhood education or child development, based on the recommendation of the intermediate district after a classroom observation may be employed.
When GSRP Lead Teachers are employed without proper credentialing, a written compliance plan must be a condition of hire. Progress toward completion of the compliance plan must minimally consist of two credit-bearing courses per calendar year.
Since FY25, any new program with uncredentialed lead teachers is required to create a Preschool Education Preparation Plan (PEPP) to demonstrate the programs commitment to supporting the teacher to obtain the required credentials. The PEPP is created along with a compliance plan and must include:
Compliance plans and PEPPs should be kept on file at the program and the ISD.
If an existing program can demonstrate to the ISD that it is unable to hire qualified associate teachers, persons who have minimally completed one course that earns college credit in child development or early childhood education may be employed. Individuals hired in 2023-24 or after who enroll in a child development associate credential with at least 6 months of verified experience in early education and care may be employed.
When GSRP Associate Teachers are employed without full credentialing, a written compliance plan must be a condition of hire. Progress toward completion of the compliance plan must minimally include two credit-bearing courses, 60 clock hours, or an equivalent of training per calendar year from an approved training institution or agency.
