Michigan Among Nation’s Leaders in Addressing Teacher Shortage

LANSING – Michigan is among the national leaders in taking action to address the teacher shortage, according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Education (USED).

USED’s report “Raise the Bar:Lead The World” highlights four areas of action taken by states to address the national teacher shortage. Michigan is a national leader in enrollment growth in educator preparation programs; job recovery in education; and enhancing teacher recruitment and retention efforts.

“This report proves that Michigan is leading the nation as one of the best states to be a teacher,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “To improve student outcomes, we must support the education professionals who help our kids thrive. Together, we have made record, bipartisan investments in our educators, from student loan repayment, retention and recruitment efforts, and stipends for student teachers. Let’s keep working together to grow the teaching profession and ensure every classroom in every school has a qualified, skilled professional at the front.”

To meet Goal 7 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan to increase the numbers of certified teachers in areas of shortage, Michigan has stepped up and shown progress in all four areas of focus by USED.

“With record investments in education by Governor Whitmer and the state legislature, including for teacher recruitment and retention, coupled with a strong commitment by schools and education partners, Michigan has become a national leader in addressing the teacher shortage,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice.

“Our efforts are bearing fruit and we’re making significant progress, but we still have a long way to go,” Dr. Rice said. “We are appreciative of the fact that USED has shared these national data on state and national efforts to address the teacher shortage.”

The four strategic areas identified by USED to help address the national teacher shortage are:

Progress Towards Returning to Pre-Pandemic School Staffing Levels: According to the USED report, for the period of May 2019-May 2022, Michigan’s job recovery in education was the second highest in the nation. Michigan experienced a one-half percent increase, one of only three states nationally to have a small increase in education staffing during this period.

Improving Teacher Compensation: Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 state School Aid budget signed by Governor Whitmer last week included a record $9,608 per pupil foundation allowance, with big increases for economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and English learners, as well as $63.8 million for the upcoming school year for local school districts to use to increase directly educator compensation.

Educator Preparation Program Enrollment: Michigan has generated five years of increases in the numbers of students preparing for careers in education in educator preparation programs, the highest level since 2013-14.

According to the USED report, Michigan exceeds the national trend of growth in enrollment in educator preparation programs (EPP). From the 2018-2019 to 2020-2021 school years, Michigan’s total enrollment in EPPs rose 30% compared to 7% nationally, and enrollment in alternative EPPs rose 279% in Michigan compared to 20% nationally.

Michigan’s efforts to increase the numbers of students preparing for careers in education have also generated greater diversity in the profession.  Over the past seven years, there has been an increase of 1,316 Black/African American full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers and 216 Hispanic/Latino FTE teachers.

In each of the last two state budgets, the governor and state legislature appropriated over a half-billion dollars in teacher recruitment and retention efforts, including but not limited to MI Future Educator Fellowships; student teacher stipends; Grow Your Own programs for school support staff and students to become teachers; and teacher mentorship—efforts that, among others, MDE recommended.

“Over the last few years, powered increasingly by grow your own efforts across the state, MDE, local school districts, intermediate school districts, teacher unions, and educator preparation programs have partnered in innovative ways to strengthen the teaching profession,” said Dr. Rice.

Expanding Registered Teacher Apprenticeship programs: In November 2022, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) joined the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), nine school districts in Saginaw County, and Saginaw Valley State University in signing an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to establish a registered apprenticeship program to develop highly skilled educators in Michigan.

Registered apprenticeships for educators are a new route for those with a passion to serve children as teachers to master their craft while they work in the classroom and are mentored by veteran teachers. Michigan is one of only 22 states to offer a registered teacher apprenticeship program.

“Registered apprenticeships are a proven pathway to prepare professionals in a multitude of careers, and we are enthusiastic to have them available now to help us address the teacher shortage for school districts across Michigan,” said Dr. Rice. “This is a new pathway into the teaching profession, one that will provide earn while you learn opportunities, substantial pre-teaching mentoring, and a great deal of experience with children prior to becoming a teacher. At the same time, the bar for entry into the profession will not be lowered. Aspiring educators will still need to earn a bachelor’s degree, to participate in an approved educator preparation program, and to pass the relevant Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC). Registered apprenticeships will help us increase the overall quantity, quality, and diversity of Michigan’s teachers.”