At its April 14, 2009, meeting, the Michigan State Board of Education supported legislation to mandate state certification for school administrators, as was previously in state law.

Other highlights from the April meeting:

• The State Board voted unanimously to support the concept of Project Re-Imagine, an initiative developed by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan to urge districts to dedicate themselves to significant and substantive reforms.  The MDE will select up to 20 Demonstration Districts across Michigan to implement and test dramatic district-wide reforms that will significantly improve learning for all students. Applications for school districts to become Project Re-Imagine Demonstration Districts will be available at the end of April.
• The State Board unanimously recommended the state Legislature to require 180 days and 1,098 hours of pupil instruction for schools using a seat-based model of education, while allowing for the continuation of waivers of such days and hours by the state Superintendent of Public Instruction to explore and promote innovative educational models.
• The Board also unanimously recommended the state Legislature maintain the requirements related to the current Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests, as opposed to moving toward an off-the-shelf test that is proposed by House Bill 4771 and Senate Bill 56.
• Governor Jennifer M. Granholm was nominated by the State Board for the 2009 Policy Leader of the Year Award, given by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). Board Treasurer Marianne Yared McGuire nominated Granholm for “all of her work on early childhood education.” Others nominated by the State Board for NASBE awards were former State Board of Education member Eileen Lappin Weiser for the Distinguished Service Award; and the Skillman Foundation for the Friend of Education Award. These national awards will be announced by NASBE in June.

The State Board also cancelled its July 14 meeting.