Letter to the Michigan Department of Education

I think I have emailed you a couple of times...  but I haven't gotten a response to my problem.  I told you that I prefer email to phone conversations so that I can keep record of the conversation after your first response, then I didn't hear back at all. (or at least I don't see a response in my box.)

Please tell me who can help me with this problem if you cannot.

I am employed by a staffing company called PESG, Professional Educational Services Group, which I have to go through to work as a substitute teacher in the districts in my area. They must apply for our permits to substitute teach, and then we are employed by them. I am not sure how it works, all I know is that they are not operating under proper standards of the Michigan Department of Education's newly adopted standards.

PESG tells me that my college transcripts are not being accepted because my four year college is not a "regionally" accredited college...  this is old information they have been given in a "manual" supplied to them by Michigan Department of Education for the 2012-2013 season.

The problem is this...  I believe their "manual" is not up to date— keeping me from my "right to work" in this state.

Correct me if my research is wrong, but this is what I base that statement on...
Michigan’s substitute teachers are governed by the MCSC. The Michigan Civil Service Commission.  Class 924 Item 75 which tells us the following information—

The Non-Accredited Colleges and Universities that were not satisfactory has grown so fast that the MCSC offers the following guidance by the CHEA on the acceptance of degrees that meet the educational requirements for positions in the Michigan State classified services.

Degrees and transcripts (the 90 credit qualification) issued by the institutions that are accredited by an accrediting body recognized in the database maintained by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are typically accepted.

My college,  Full Sail University is nationally accredited by the ACICS... which is on the list as being accepted by the CHEA as of Sept. 2012.  This new information has not been relayed to PESG or added to their 2012-2013 manual.  This means that I continue to be a displaced homeworker even though I have over 90 credits into a college that the Department of Education has approved for financial aid for my education.


I live in Lenawee County, and they are currently in need of more substitute teachers. I should be working now.

Please tell me what steps I need to take next to bet my certificate to teach as a substitute teacher.

We have no income other than S.S. and I was looking forward to working for PESG.

Please help in any way you can.


Thank you


LeFerna Walch