Over 100 School Districts Awarded Funds to Support New Educators

$12M Will Help Address Teacher Shortage

LANSING – The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has awarded nearly $12.1 million to 121 districts to provide support to new teachers, school administrators, and school counselors.

The funding is for mentoring new educators and induction programming, which is based on a professional development plan and provides support in classroom management and instructional delivery.

“Michigan has made great progress in addressing its teacher shortage,” said Interim State Superintendent Dr. Sue C. Carnell. “As new educators enter the profession, we must make sure they have the support they need to help students learn. Mentoring and induction programs help to improve student achievement and teacher retention.”

Enrollment in state teacher preparation programs offered by universities, colleges, or alternative route teacher certification providers increased by 87% from the 2016-17 academic year to 2023-24, with 9,512 students in 2016-17 and 17,780 in 2023-24. That rebound came after enrollment in teacher preparation programs had decreased by 59% from 2011-12 to 2016-17, with 23,203 students in 2011-12 and 9,512 in 2016-17.

Mentoring and Induction Grants are awarded through Section 388.1627h of the fiscal year 2024 State School Aid Act.

Local education agencies, both traditional public school districts and public school academies, and intermediate school districts (ISDs) may use these funds for stipends and training for mentors of teachers, school counselors, and administrators; books, materials, and other professional learning resources to support onboarding; and staffing costs to cover time spent dedicated to mentoring and onboarding.

Strong mentoring and induction practices increase teacher retention and support Goal 7 in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, to increase the numbers of certified teachers in areas of shortage. The 121 local districts and intermediate districts that were awarded the funds are:

• Airport Community Schools, Carleton.
• Algonac Community Schools.
• Atlanta Community Schools.
• Avondale School District, Auburn Hills.
• Bark River-Harris School District.
• Bath Community Schools.
• Battle Creek Public Schools.
• Bentley Community School District.
• Berrien Regional Education Service Agency.
• Black River Public School.
• Breitung Township School District.
• Brighton Area Schools.
• Bronson Community Schools.
• Bullock Creek School District, Midland.
• Byron Center Charter School.
• Central Montcalm Public Schools.
• Charlton Heston Academy, St. Helen.
• Clarenceville School District, Livonia.
• Clawson Public Schools.
• Clintondale Community Schools.
• Coleman Community Schools.
• Coloma Community School District.
• Colon Community School District.
• Comstock Public Schools, Kalamazoo.
• Concord Academy Boyne.
• Countryside Academy, Benton Harbor.
• Creative Technologies Academy, Cedar Springs.
• The Dearborn Academy.
• Decatur Public Schools.
• Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences.
• Detroit Leadership Academy.
• Detroit Public Schools Community District.
• DeWitt Public Schools.
• Dryden Community Schools.
• East Grand Rapids Public Schools.
• Eaton Regional Education Service Agency.
• Eau Claire Public Schools.
• Edwardsburg Public Schools.
• Evart Public Schools.
• Fairview Area School District.
• Fennville Public Schools.
• Ferndale Public Schools.
• Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools.
• Gladwin Community Schools.
• Grand Haven Area Public Schools.
• Grant Public Schools.
• Greenville Public Schools.
• Grosse Pointe Public School System.
• Hamtramck Public Schools.
• Hastings Area School System.
• Hemlock Public Schools.
• Hope Academy of West Michigan, Grand Rapids.
• Huron ISD.
• Inland Lakes Schools, Indian River.
• International Academy of Flint.
• Iron Mountain Public Schools.
• Jefferson-Douglass Academy, Detroit.
• Kent ISD.
• Kentwood Public Schools.
• Laingsburg Community Schools.
• Lake Shore Public Schools, St. Clair Shores.
• L'Anse Creuse Public Schools.
• Lansing School District.
• Leland Public School.
• Lighthouse Academy, Grand Rapids.
• Lincoln-King Adams-Young Academy, Detroit.
• Madison-Carver Academy, Detroit.
• Manchester Community Schools.
• Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency.
• Marshall Academy.
• Memphis Community Schools.
• Menominee Area Public Schools.
• Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy.
• Midland County Education Service Agency.
• Mio-AuSable Schools.
• Montague Area Public Schools.
• Morrice Area Schools.
• Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools.
• Muskegon Maritime Academy.
• Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change.
• Newaygo County Regional Education Service Agency.
• Northwest Community Schools, Jackson.
• Novi Community School District.
• Old Redford Academy, Detroit.
• Olivet Community Schools.
• Onsted Community Schools.
• Orchard View Schools, Muskegon.
• Ottawa Area ISD.
• Ovid-Elsie Area Schools.
• Oxford Community Schools.
• PACE Academy, Southfield.
• Pennfield Schools, Battle Creek.
• Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools.
• Pinckney Community Schools.
• Richmond Community Schools.
• Roscommon Area Public Schools.
• Royal Oak Schools.
• Saginaw Township Community Schools.
• Saranac Community Schools.
• Shelby Public Schools.
• South Haven Public Schools.
• St. Johns Public Schools.
• State Street Academy, Bay City.
• Stephenson Area Public Schools.
• Swan Valley School District.
• Tri County Area Schools, Sand Lake.
• Troy School District.
• Tuscola ISD.
• University Preparatory Academy, Detroit.
• University Preparatory Art & Design, Detroit.
• University Preparatory Science & Math, Detroit.
• Uplift Michigan Online School.
• Van Buren ISD.
• Vanderbilt Area School District.
• Washington-Parks Academy, Redford.
• Washtenaw ISD.
• Waterford School District.
• Wayland Union Schools.
• Whitehall District Schools.
• Woodland Park Academy, Grand Blanc.
• Ypsilanti Community Schools.

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