Letter to MDCR -
I could possibly have a discrimination complaint against the Michigan Department of Education who governs my employer, PESG (Professional Educational Services Group) here in Michigan.
Could you please guide me as to which steps I need to take?
My name is LeFerna Walch. I am 57 and my husband Roger is 72. When my husband lost work and was forced into early retirement, I was considered a displaced homeworker. I couldn't get a decent job, (a minimum wage job that offered enough hours that I could afford the gas to get there) so I went back to college. I want to be a substitute teacher in and around my county. To do this, I needed 90 college credits and at least a 2.0 GPA (which I have a 3.5) and have to go through PESG, Professional Educational Services Group, who staffs the substitute teachers in most of the school districts in my area. As soon as I had 90 credits, I got a copy of my transcripts, I took all the tests, extra child education classes, had the background check and fingerprinting only to find out that PESG says Michigan will not accept my transcripts. They tell me they have to operate under the MDE rules in their manual—of what is required for a permit to teach in Michigan schools. The manual says we must have a qualified four-year university that is "regionally" accredited... my college is "nationally" accredited, so I am being denied the right to work because my college education is not accepted in Michigan. I received financial aid from the Dept. of Education (and will owe over 60,000.00) and the fact that it is not being accepted by the Michigan Department of Education seems unfair in the least.
I did some research, as I planned to fight this. And from what I have found out, I am hoping the problem is that PESG has outdated information in their manual from the MDE and all I need is a waver of some sort to show that my college is accepted. That is if they go by the Council on Higher Education's new list of accepted colleges now being used by Michigan's Civil Service Commission.
I see that Michigan’s substitute teachers are governed by the MCSC Class 924 Item 75 which now 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."
My college, Full Sail University is nationally accredited by the ACICS... which is on the list mentioned and accepted by the CHEA as of Sept. 2012. This is why I think this could be new information that has not been relayed to PESG or added to their 2012-2013 manual.
I wrote to PESG with my findings and they can't do anything. They have to follow the manual they've been given, but they have employed me to work as a paraprofessional, only, missing valuable time and pay as a substitute teacher.
If the oversight is not the case, then I believe I am getting unfair treatment, since The Department of Education has loaned me money for a college education that Michigan Department of Education will "not accept" according to my place of employment, PESG. Which leaves me to ask if the Michigan Department of Education is singling out certain civil service jobs (teachers) discriminating against college students that have gone to a "for profit" college instead of a "regionally accredited" college?
If this is not discrimination. What would it be? How am I supposed to pay off my college loans if I don't have the equal opportunity to work in this state?
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
LeFerna Walch
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