New Report Provides Roadmap to Address Michigan Teacher Shortage Problem by Building a Strong and Diverse Teacher Workforce for Michigan Students

DETROIT, DECEMBER 9, 2025 – As Michigan wrestles with a teacher shortage problem, findings from a new report show that the state struggles to attract and retain teachers of color, in particular. The challenges to building a strong and diverse teacher workforce are especially troubling in a state where lackluster student outcomes are an ongoing concern.

“Students of all grades who experience a strong and diverse teacher workforce reap benefits, regardless of their race or ethnicity,” said Charlotte Pierce, senior policy analyst for EdTrust-Midwest, who authored the report. “Yet, too few Michigan students experience a diverse teacher workforce, and some students go through their entire Prek-12 experience never having a teacher of color at the front of their classrooms.”

In its new report, Hope and Hard Work Ahead: Building a Strong & Diverse Teacher Workforce for Michigan Students, EdTrust-Midwest shares new findings about the makeup of Michigan’s teacher workforce and unpacks some of the systemic barriers that teachers of color face along the many steps of the teacher pipeline – from recruitment to the teaching profession, to preparation programs, to the student teaching internship, to becoming an early career teacher, to becoming an experienced teacher, and even in alternative routes to certification.

The research, conducted over more than a year, builds upon EdTrust-Midwest’s recent work to uncover reasons behind Michigan’s teacher shortage problem.

Some of the key findings and research cited in the report include:

• Diverse teacher workforces have been linked to quantitative improvements in test scores, fewer absences and suspensions, higher graduation and college enrollment rates, and increased trust between students and teachers.
• In 2024-25, only 11.3% of Michigan teachers were people of color compared to nearly 40% of the student population. These gaps persist across geographic regions in Michigan.
• About 11% of Michigan students go to a school where there are no teachers of color.
• While there have been slight increases in the representation of teachers of color in elementary and World Language certifications, teachers of color still represent only a tiny proportion of all Michigan teachers.
• Michigan teacher preparation programs have seen higher enrollment rates among candidates of color; however, completion rates for those candidates are more troubling. EdTrust-Midwest found that in 2022-23, only 12% of those who completed a Michigan teacher preparation program were people of color.

“These challenges, while complex, are not insurmountable,” said Jennifer Mrozowski, senior director for EdTrust-Midwest. “Michigan leaders can build on existing investments and efforts to nourish the teacher pipeline, strengthening both the quality and diversity of Michigan’s teacher workforce.”

To address Michigan’s teacher shortage crisis and build a strong and diverse teacher workforce that supports all students’ learning, state policymakers can take steps now. Researchers outline five priorities, spanning through the entire teacher experience from recruitment to retention, that Michigan leaders to strengthen and diversify the teacher pipeline and develop a high-quality, diverse teacher workforce that benefits all students, families, and communities. The report also highlights promising programs in Michigan and across the nation that are demonstrating success with improving teacher retention rates for candidates of color.

Boldly Moving Education Ahead (BMEA), formerly known as the Black Male Educators Alliance, is cited as an exemplar of how to cultivate a strong support network and coalition of educational leaders to promote the well-being and retention of teachers of color.

“When young people see teachers who reflect their identities, languages, and lived experiences, it affirms that they belong in learning spaces,” said Dr. Curtis Lewis, founder and president of BMEA. “Representation matters, but it’s more than that — it’s about the range of perspectives, teaching styles, and relational approaches that come from a diverse educator community.

“Students thrive when they’re taught by educators who not only understand content but also understand context — who can connect learning to life, culture, and community.”

Advocates are urging policymakers to strengthen policies to build a strong and diverse teacher workforce that supports all Michigan students and their academic success.

“Equitable access to a strong and diverse educator workforce is one of the key pillars which fosters strong cultural connections, supportive relationships, and a strong sense of belonging that is needed by all students to support and enhance their academic and social/emotional needs,” said Alice Thompson, CEO of BFDI Educational Services, Inc. and a co-chair of the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity coalition.

“A connection with other diverse school members helps to not only make stronger connections and develop good citizenship and teamwork skills among students, but also fosters a sense of cultural belonging which stimulates and supports the learning process,” said Thompson, who is also chair of the education committee for the Detroit branch of the NAACP.