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April 17, 2026
Western Michigan University, MDE Partner to Retain School Staff
LANSING–New standards approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) for educator mentoring and induction programs will help the state improve teacher retention.
The standards are part of Michigan’s efforts to address retention of educators, especially for certified teachers in areas of shortage. The standards outline guidelines to improve programs for mentoring and induction of new teachers, administrators and school counselors.
Strong mentoring and induction practices increase teacher retention and support Goal 7 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, to increase the number of certified teachers in areas of shortage. The new standards may be viewed on the Mentoring and Induction Standards webpage.
“Students benefit when strong mentorship and induction programs support certified educators, improve retention, and help address teacher shortages,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “Early in my career as a teacher and administrator, mentors played a critical role in my growth, giving me firsthand insight into their impact. I have also had the privilege of serving as a mentor, supporting new administrators as they develop and succeed.”
Western Michigan University was awarded the state-funded Mentoring Standards, Curricula, and Professional Learning Creation Grant to assist MDE in creating standards, curricula and professional learning for mentors of new teachers, administrators and school counselors. As part of the process of creating the standards, Western’s team reviewed mentoring and induction research and leadership standards from several states and educational organizations. An advisory board of 15 members—along with more than 300 other contributors consisting of teachers, school counselors, administrators, and representatives from educational organizations, higher education institutions and alternative route providers—were consulted on the project. The state accepted public comment before the standards were approved.
Teachers in the first three years of employment in classroom teaching are required to be assigned a mentor and receive an additional 15 days of professional learning under the mentoring and induction law. Further, the administrator educator evaluation law requires administrators to be assigned a mentor or coach during their first three years in a new administrator position.
These standards will help intermediate school districts and local education agencies, both traditional public school districts and public school academies, to better implement mentoring and induction programs to increase retention and improve professional practice of new practitioners and their mentors.
The standards are organized into three domains: foundations, structures and practices. Foundations and structures focus on helping program leadership establish an effective mentoring and induction program, while the practices section focuses on guiding mentors through supporting three populations of new practitioners—teachers, school counselors and administrators.
Curricula based on the standards, as well as professional learning modules for mentors, are being developed. The standards and other resources will support mentoring and induction programs and directly align with two associated grants, the Mentoring and Induction Evaluation Grant and District Support Grant.
View the standards on the Mentoring and Induction Standards webpage. For more information about mentoring and induction-related grants, visit the Mentoring and Induction Grants webpage.
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