New EdTrust-Midwest Policy Brief Provides Recommendations to Grow and Strengthen Michigan’s Teacher Workforce by Investing in Strong, Innovative Teacher Preparation Pathways

As Michigan faces a teacher shortage problem in classrooms across the state, new analyses reveal a troubling gap in the rate of teachers who enroll in teacher preparation programs versus those who complete them. This finding follows an EdTrust-Midwest report that revealed particularly concerning disparities in enrollment and completion rates among teacher candidates of color.

These gaps contribute to students’ inequitable access to strong and diverse teachers in Michigan’s classrooms, according to a new policy brief, Strong Start, Strong Teachers: Supporting Teacher Preparation Programs for a Brighter Future.

The brief by EdTrust-Midwest, which is the third installment of a series on strengthening Michigan’s teacher workforce, offers policy recommendations to strengthen and diversify the state’s teacher workforce by investing in innovative pathways for aspiring teachers. Researchers also spotlight innovative initiatives that are already in place.

“Unfortunately, like many states, Michigan faces a teacher shortage problem that starts early in the talent pipeline for many aspiring teachers,” said Charlotte Pierce, senior policy analyst at EdTrust-Midwest, who authored the brief. “That leaky talent pipeline is fueling a teacher shortage crisis that students are experiencing across Michigan, but especially in areas where there is a high concentration of poverty.”

Among the findings and research in the brief:

• In Michigan, the number of people completing educator preparation programs dropped each year from 4,450 in 2012-13 to only 2,258 in 2019-20.
• In recent years, however, increases in enrollment give reason for hope: enrollment in Michigan teacher preparation programs has consistently increased since the 2017-18 school year, according to EdTrust-Midwest’s new analysis.
• The ongoing gap in enrollment versus completion rates suggests a need for greater support for teacher candidates to improve completion rates.

EdTrust-Midwest’s previous report on building a diverse teacher workforce revealed a troubling gap in enrollment and completion rates among candidates of color. While nearly 20% of those enrolled in teacher prep programs were people of color in 2022-23, only 12% of those who completed a program were people of color.

Research shows that having a strong teacher is one of the most important factors to student success, and having a diverse teacher workforce benefits all students. Yet, Michigan’s public schools do not reflect the diversity of the student population.

“As Michigan strives to be a top 10 state for education, investment in our teachers throughout their career journey is mission-critical to the success of our education system,” Pierce said.

Researchers noted increased enrollment in alternative pathways to teacher certification — fueling the need for strong support for such programs. For instance, in 2012, alternative programs enrolled only 12.5% of new teacher candidates nationally. By 2021, they enrolled more than a quarter of the candidate pool, the data showed.

The new brief showcases innovative programs already in place to grow the teacher workforce, including through alternative preparation programs that often attract a broader and more diverse group of candidates than traditional programs. Those include Grow Your Own (GYO) programs across the state that serve as exemplars for strengthening and diversifying the teacher workforce.

And while Michigan is taking important steps to strengthen its teacher pipeline, there are additional steps policymakers and district leaders can take now to support pathways to teaching and build a strong and diverse teacher workforce that helps ensure all K-12 public school students reach their academic potential.

The brief outlines three steps to support teachers through their career journey:

1. Increase the MI Future Educator student teaching stipend to make teacher training more affordable. Currently, state funding provides $9,600 per semester, but it should be at least $15,000 to keep pace with a competitive living wage based on current living wage estimates.
2. Build talent locally by continuing to support and fund Grow Your Own and apprenticeship programs. EdTrust-Midwest recommends expanding high-quality student teaching apprenticeship models to include more districts across the state, using best practices to support and certify teachers before they lead a classroom.
3. Improve data transparency for Grow Your Own programs and alternative routes to certification. EdTrust-Midwest recommends that the state require grant recipients to report data surrounding the efficacy of the programming. Data components could include demographics of participants, participant completion rates, and the percentage of participants that remained in high-needs schools for a specified duration after completion. These data would be used to identify best practices in GYO programming to ensure future funding is allocated towards programs with a greater likelihood of success.

“The challenges to building a strong and diverse teacher workforce are especially troubling in a state where lackluster student outcomes are an ongoing concern,” said Brian Love, state director for EdTrust-Midwest. “By investing deeply and intentionally in teacher training, Michigan teacher preparation programs can repair the leaky talent pipeline and build a strong and diverse teacher workforce to support all of our students.

“Coupled with leadership in innovative teacher certification pathways, investments in strong teacher preparation programs and pathways can help to elevate Michigan to a top 10 state for education.”