In Michigan, SB-CEUs and/or university credits are used to renew educators’ certificates.
SB stands for State Board. CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit.
In order to use continuing education units to renew your certificate, they must be SB-CEUs…in other words…Michigan (only MICHIGAN) Department of Education Board approved Continuing Education Units.
Whose certificates need renewal?
Teachers who have already completed their initial 18 hours of credit and have received their professional certificates.
To keep a professional education certificate (issued since 1992):
Must be renewed every five years with the completion of 6 semester hours OR 18 SB-CEUs OR a combination of both. The deadline is always June 30.
Other certificates needing renewal:
School Administrator Certificate
School Psychologist
Occupational Education Certificate (formerly Full Vocational Certificate)
The following chart can help when using a combination of SB-CEUs and credit:
You need 6 credit hours or 18 SB-CEUs or a combination of both.
If you have 5 credit hours, you would need 3 SB-CEUs.
4 Credit hours and 6 SB-CEUs
3 Credit hours and 9 SB-CEUs
2 Credit hours and 12 SB=CEUs
1 Credit hour and 15 SB-CEUs
6 Credit hours 0 SB-CEUs
0 Credit hours 18 SB-CEUs
What are the advantages of SB-CEUs?
Cost (compared to University Credit)
SB-CEUS – free (CISD) to minimal charge by others.
University Credit – (2005-2006: approx $225-380 per credit hour other fees)
3.0 SB-CEUs equal 1 University credit.
What is Direct College Conversion?
If a program is being offered for university credit, SB-CEUs can be applied for under "Direct College Conversion." If the program has been awarded 1 university credit, the conversion is 3:1 or 3.0 SB-CEUs.
For instance, if the training is 12 hours long and has been approved for 1 college credit, rather than earning 1.2 SB-CEUs for 12 contact hours, 3.0 can be earned (the conversion of 1 college credit equalling 3.0 SB-CEUs.)
What are the disadvantages of SB-CEUs?
SB-CEUs allow absolutely no flexibility of contact hours listed. If a participant is absent, late, or leaves early for any reason at any time, s/he will lose all SB-CEUs for a given program. This includes chatting in the hall with friends, as well as frequent or lengthy cell phone conversations.
There can be no exceptions when it comes to absence, arriving late or leaving early. Because the MDE is strict with us, it is our responsibility to be strict with you.
When applying for SB-CEUs, you agree to the following:
By applying for SB-CEUs, I understand that:
The MDE requires 100% attendance for this program. No SB-CEUs will be awarded if any part of the program is missed (arriving late, leaving early). Make-ups are not available.
I cannot receive SB-CEU credit and university credit. It must be one or the other.
My role will be that of an active participant.
If out-of-class assignments are advertised in advance, I will complete them in order to receive the SB-CEUs.
Why would I choose university credit?
If you are working on an advanced degree (always check with your advisor to see if the course will apply to your program).
If your school district uses credit for advancement on the pay scale.
If you need some flexibility in regard to attendance. Instructors will often work with participants who have minor attendance issues, while the state will not.
How do I keep track of my SB-CEUs or university credit hours?
Always keep a copy of what and where you received your SB-CEU credit. You can request a transcript from any/all granting agencies.
Remember:
There is no Central Registry for tracking SB-CEUs for an individual. It is your responsibility to keep track of where you receive SB-CEUs.
If you need a transcript listing your SB-CEU credits you have earned, you will need to contact each sponsoring agency for your accumulated record from that agency. This is the same as if you needed a college transcript from each college where you have received credit.
To receive either an unofficial or official (signed and raised-stamped) transcript from Calhoun ISD, you must email Cathy Galloway with your identification number (usually your ss#) and an unofficial transcript will be sent to you via email.
Only SB-CEUs earned from issuance date to expiration date of certificate may be used toward certificate renewal: they can’t be carried over.
Use this form to record information about all the courses you take. Send this into MDE only when all your requirements are completed for a given five-year period.
The MDE website may have other helpful information for you on that page.
I need information, I have questions, where do I go?
Be sure to contact Calhoun ISD first!
The MDE does not want to receive a lot of calls or emails if the local sponsor can help you first. If you start at the MDE, they will ask you if you have contacted your local sponsor. If you haven’t, you will be referred back to us.
IACET Approved Programs Earn SB-CEUs
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and the MDE has a partnership. If a program has the IACET logo indicating it is sponsored by an IACET Authorized Sponsor/Provider, you are eligible for State Board Continuing Education Units for attending the training. Conference/ program preapproval from the MDE is not necessary.
What you must do to convert your IACET CEUs into SB-CEUs:
Be sure to collect and submit to the SB-CEU coordinator at your sponsoring agency:
1. An official brochure which advertises the program in which you have participated.
2. An official transcript from the IACET Sponsor/Provider (certificate of Completion is unacceptable)
3. Send these documents to the ISD SB-CEU coordinator within the 30-day time frame immediately following the end date of the training, workshop, and/or conference.
If you do not keep the 30-day time frame, your application for SB-CEUs will be denied by the MDE.
Will you be taking a MVU or Learnport course? If so, you are eligible for SB-CEU credit.
Upon completion of the MVU or Learnport training:
Within 30 days of the end of the training, send the Certificate of Completion from MVU or Learnport to Calhoun ISD coordinator.
MVU will provide the certificate that contains the name of the program, date, location, SB-CEUs earned.
You will need to enter your name and district information, SS#, and sign the form.
You will be awarded SB-CEUs once the MDE assigns the SB-CEU approval number and your information is entered into the CISD database. A copy of the MVU form will be returned to your for your file.
What happens after your program has been approved?
YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED:
Please read all of the instructions below.
My program was approved, now what?
Please conduct your program as follows:
Your program must be conducted exactly as it was submitted on your application. The start and end time must remain the same. If this procedure is not followed, you risk losing the SB-CEUS for which you have applied. It will be your responsibility to inform program participants if credit is lost for this reason.
It is a good idea to always announce to the class that missing any portion of the class will cost them their SB-CEUS. 100% ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED.
The MDE has strict requirements for monitoring a program. If you are the program monitor, your duties are listed below. Please read them carefully and comply with the directions.
Sign IN/Sign OUT Sheet:
Provide a sign-in sheet for each day.
All participants can sign in/out on this sheet whether they received SB-CEUs or not.
Participants MUST include the “actual” time that they sign in and out, and not just list the program times. They may lose credit if they do not use actual times.
It is good to have a clock available.
Attendance/ Verification Record:
Give an Attendance/Verification Record to everyone wanting SB-CEUs.
On this record, the monitor must initial the IN time if the person arrives before the program begins. (Use red or blue ink)
Do not give application to anyone arriving after the programs begins (the speaker begins the program). Pick up the applications if they were left on a table when the program begins. Also, draw a line after the last name on the sign-in so you will know if anyone has arrived late, or highlight the names on a preprinted sheet of those who have not signed in.
If the program is more than one day long, collect applications at the end of each day and hand out when person checks in for the next session.
Monitor must initial the END time. Collect verification forms at the conclusion of the program (do not accept forms turned in before the conclusion of the program, left laying on a table, mailed in, or not turned in to you personally, or in any way that you cannot verify 100% attendance).
Attendance must be closely monitored. It is the strict requirement of the MDE that the participant be in attendance from beginning to end each day. You could lose your opportunity to apply for SB-CEUs if these instructions are not followed.
If a participant is late or leaves early, draw a line through the application and indicate the reason that SB-CEU criteria was not fulfilled and send to Cathy Galloway, CISD.
Please look over the form. Did the person use an SS# or ID#? If not, please get one from them. The ISD cannot process the form and award credit without an id number. It will be returned to the participant with no credit given.
Program Monitor Cover Letter:
Complete the SB-CEU Program Monitor Cover Letter and send with:
1. the original SB-CEU attendance verification records,
2. the sign-in/sign-out sheet
a. with the names of those applying and who are eligible for SB-CEUs highlighted
b. and the form signed and dated in red by you, the monitor.
Evaluation/Feedback:
An evaluation/feedback form must be completed and the results compiled for the MDE file. You may design your own feedback form to garner the information you want to know.
The one (or two) page compilation may be mailed within two weeks after the conclusion of the program. Do not send all the evaluations! They will be returned to you for a compilation.
CHECKLIST: (The documentation must be mailed to Cathy Galloway upon the program’s conclusion)
The SB-CEU Program Monitor Cover Letter (send immediately)
Application/Verification Record completed by each participant receiving SB-CEUs (send immediately)
The sign-in sheet with highlighted names of those sending SB-CEU aps and signed by you (in red or color other than black) (send immediately)
The compilation of evaluation results (within two weeks of the close of the program).
Proof of SB-CEU credit:
Once the participant’s information is entered into the database, they will receive a copy of their SB-CEU verification form to keep for their records.
IMPORTANT NOTE!!!
The program file is CLOSED at the end of 30 days. Please have everything completed by that time or your applicants will not receive their SB-CEUs.
What if I cancel my program, or it there is an inclement weather day that cancels school?
If your SB-CEU approved program is cancelled for any reason, please notify Cathy Galloway as the program must be canceled with the MDE.
If you need to change the date for any reason (snow days, presenter, scheduling conflict), email Cathy to have the date changed with the MDE.
Possible problem areas:
PLAN AHEAD!
The MDE absolutely will not accept applications submitted less than 30 days before the start date of your program. Get your application completed and sent in 45-60 days in advance of the start of your program. This will allow enough time in case there are technical difficulties, vacations, illnesses, or anything that could delay your application.
CAN I BUILD IN WIGGLE ROOM?
Yes, and it is a good idea to do so, especially for programs conducted during the winter months! If you have a 6 hour program, you can apply for .5, leaving 1 hour for emergency use.
THE AGENDA SHOULD BE SET PRIOR TO SUBMITTING APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL.
Be sure you have the agenda from the presenter and that you count the contact hours correctly. If the agenda has not been given to you, how can you guarantee how many hours the program will be?
APPLYING FOR A MULTIPLE-DAY PROGRAM IN ONE APPLICATION.
You may choose to do this, however be aware that the problem lies in missing a few minutes of the program and losing all of the credit for the whole series. For example, if a program is three days long, and the participant has attended the first two days, but is sick on the third day, no credit can be earned.
If the three-day program was applied for as three individual days, the participant would receive credit for the first two days, and no credit for the day missed.
PRESENTERS DISMISSING EARLY ON A REGULAR BASIS.
The presenters need to know that the program must be conducted as the agenda indicates. If you have a presenter who finishes a few minutes early, they should continue the program in some fashion (question and answer period, etc.) and release the group at the designated time.
If the same presenter continues to dismiss early on a regular basis, when applying for contact hours on your next application, cut down the number of contact hours to reflect accurate credit amount.
WANTING COLLEGE CONVERSION PRIOR TO COLLEGE APPROVAL AND HOURS BEING DETERMINED.
Before applying for direct college conversion, you must have the approval by the university who will be issuing the credit. Always include the name and phone number of the person at the university. If you do not have approval from the college or university and are running out of time, apply for contact hours rather than miss the chance to apply at all.
If you have a program that has been approved for 1 hour of university credit, you are able to receive 3.0 SB-CEUs for that same program. Remember, 1 university credit is equal to 3.0, 2 credit hours = 6.0, and so on. You do not have to count the contact hours in direct college conversion.
If anyone misses a portion of the class, all college conversion credit will be lost.
ADMINISTRATIVE CERTIFICATE…THERE IS NONE!
HOWEVER administrators must meet requirements for continuing employment. (6 semester hours or 18 SB-CEUs)
IF I HAVE EXTRA SB-CEUs, CAN I CARRY THEM OVER INTO THE NEXT RENEWAL PERIOD?
SB-CEUS CANNOT BE NOT BANKED!
The five-year renewal period is the limit.
DO NOT WAIT or put off getting your requirements completed.
OUT OF STATE CONFERENCES
You may be planning to attend an out-of-state conference. You should apply to receive SB-CEU for the conference that you plan to attend. You must adhere to the 30 day time line required by the MDE. To allow enough time, it would be best to apply to the ISD 45-60 days prior to the conference.
FELONY:
THIS ADVISORY SHOULD APPEAR ON EVERY APPLICATION:
Advisory: It is a criminal offense to use or attempt to use a State Board of Education Continuing Education Unit transcript or certificate of completion that is fraudulently obtained, altered, or forged to obtain a teacher, school administrator, or school psychologist certificate, or other State Board approval.
THE MDE AND THE SPONSOR'S RIGHTS
The Calhoun ISD is proud to be a sponsor for State Board of Education Continuing Education Units. We do not want to lose this privilege as it is a service we like to provide to all of our constituent districts in Barry, Branch, and Calhoun counties. However, if through the audit process, we are found not to be in compliance with state requirements, the MDE can (and will) pull our right to be a sponsor.
If you send an application to the CISD and receive approval to offer credit for your program, it is your responsibility to conduct the program as stated in the application and agenda. Since the MDE is strict with us, we must be strict with you. You must, inturn, be strict with the program participants and uphold the rules and regulations for conducting a program in your district. Calhoun ISD holds the right to deny applying for SB-CEUs for your programs if you do not comply with stated rules.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR SB-CEUs?
Each district in Barry, Branch, and Calhoun counties is welcome to apply for SB-CEUs for professional development programs they offer within their district. The only requirement is that each district wishing to apply must have a trained staff member who will serve as the contact for your district. There is no charge for districts within these three counties to apply for SB-CEUs.
Community agencies providing professional development programs for educators may also apply to offer SB-CEUs through the Calhoun ISD. There is a $25 application fee. Contact Cathy Galloway if you are interested in more information.
CAN MY DISTRICT BE A SPONSORING AGENCY?
Calhoun ISD is the sponsoring agency for schools in Barry, Branch, and Calhoun counties.
Any district has the option to become trained by the MDE and become a sponsoring agency, should they choose to do so. Contact Susie Koenigsknecht for more information.
WHAT ABOUT (JUST PLAIN OLE) CEUs?
You may have seen many professional development brochures advertising CEUs. For example, Skillpath programs or out-of-state programs may say CEUs Available! Be aware that these CEUs will mean nothing to you when renewing your certificate.
Without the SB (State Board), a CEU will only record your professional development time. You can, however, submit an application to receive SB-CEUs for the program you plan to attend. This must be done in accordance with the application timeline.
If your application is approved, you will receive instructions and a form to take to the conference or workshop with you.
WHAT OTHER KINDS OF PROGRAMS AWARD SB-CEUs?
The Calhoun ISD applies to the MDE for approval for all of the programs below. At the end of the first and second semester, a form will be emailed to all principals and instructional coordinating council members. They are asked to share this information with all educators in their district so that everyone has the opportunity to apply for SB-CEU credit provided they fulfill the criteria for:
Serving as mentor teacher (can earn 3.0 each semester. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.)
Serving as a new principal mentor (can earn 3.0 per year. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.)
Serving as a supervising teacher(can earn 3.0 each semester. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.)
Serving as a supervisor for a school counselor (can earn 3.0 each semester. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.)
Serving as a supervisor for a school psychologist (can earn 3.0 each semester. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.)
Serving as a supervisor for a student teacher/teacher intern (can earn 3.0 each semester. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.)
Serving on a professional development committee (can earn 3.0 each year. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.) NOTE: you can only earn credit for one committee, not multiple committees during the year.
Serving on a school improvement team (can earn 3.0 each year. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.) [Can be a building or district PA 25 team.]
Serving on a state appointed advisory committee (can earn 3.0 each year. A total of 9.0 can be earned during the five year renewal period with this activity.) NOTE: you can only earn credit for one committee, not multiple committees during the year.
If you are serving in one or more of the stated programs above, be sure to ask your principal for the form as the end of the semester approaches. All applications must be in to Calhoun ISD before the 30 day deadline after the ending date on the application form.
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN MY AREA OR ACROSS THE STATE?
There is a website listing every program that has been approved to offer SB-CEU credit. You will find programs listed by month, subject area, sponsor. You will also find the contact information in case you might be interested in taking a class in another area to earn the rest of the credit you need.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER?
Many people have become concerned about using a social security number as the identifying number for your SB-CEU records. Here is something you should know: The Calhoun ISD does not have the SB-CEU database on the web. It is closed within our own network and not accessible by the "outside." However, if you choose not to use your SS# as your identifier, here are some things you should take into consideration before making your choice about what to do:
1. Your identifying number must be a number attached only to YOU. When you need a transcript of your credit, you are required to give this number to pull up your record. Everything is entered by your identification number. You do not want your credit being entered into someone else’s record, so your ID number must be identifiable to you alone. At Calhoun ISD, our database system for recording SB-CEU credit was set up based upon the participant's ssn.
2. If you wish to change from using your SS# to another number, you need to contact Cathy Galloway with both your SS# and your new number. The system will have to be updated to make sure that all of your past recorded SB-CEUs are updated to the new id number. Since you have been using your SS#, each of your records will have to be called up and switched to the new number. If the new number is used without all your records being changed, your transcript will not list all of the credit that you have earned.
3. It will be YOUR responsibility to remember the new ID number. Since your records are kept according to number and not name, everything is enter by id number. You must use your new id number on every application and also when you request your transcript, otherwise we are not able to help you.
4. When you receive SB-CEUs issued from someplace other than the CISD, you must go back to that issuing agency for your transcript. Calhoun ISD only keeps records for the programs we applied and received approval through the MDE. If you are switching your id number, have you used your SS# someplace else (another sponsoring agency) in the past? You will need to keep track of which number you are using and where. You may find that another issuing agency has records under a number other than what you are choosing to use now.
5. Suggestion: keep a file folder for just SB-CEUs. Every time you receive SB-CEU credit, put the completion certificate (whether it is a copy of your attendance verification form, such as CISD returns to you, or a certificate that has been issued or whatever the means you have of verifying your credit) in that file. The completion certificate should contain all of the information you need when renewing your certificate.
6. Finally – if you have submitted a form without an ID number, your credit has not been logged into the Calhoun ISD system, thus – no credit was awarded.
