Amid a statewide teacher shortage, Republican lawmakers in Michigan are considering bill that would temporarily allow school staff members such as cafeteria workers, nurses, and bus drivers to substitute teach as long as they have a high school diploma. Under the current Michigan law, a school district may employ a person who does not have a teaching certificate to serve as a substitute teacher. But that person must have at least 60 semester hours of college credit or an associate degree or have qualifying expertise in a trade or industrial education program. Michigan’s House Bill 4294 would relax those criteria for those who are already working as school support staff. If passed as is, the bill would provide that through June 30, 2026, a school district could hire anyone as a substitute teacher as long as the person graduated high school or have equivalency certificates and is employed by or …