Hope and Hard Work Ahead: Building a Strong and Diverse Teacher Workforce for Michigan’s Students

Summary

Every Michigan student deserves access to a strong and diverse teacher workforce. And all teachers should be highly-trained and well-supported throughout their career journey. As part of a series on how to build a strong teacher workforce that supports student success and tackles Michigan’s teacher shortage problem, this report examines how Michigan struggles to attract and retain teacher candidates of color. Researchers identify where the greatest gaps lie and present evidence-informed strategies to expand access, prepare educators more equitably, and retain talented teachers for the long term.

Introduction to the Report

Decades of research underscore how important teachers are in students’ lives. They are, in fact, one of the most important factors contributing to student success in the classroom. Teachers, particularly highly qualified and effective teachers, are a key ingredient in achieving student success. Yet, Michigan is facing a teacher shortage crisis, with the impact being felt most deeply among students who are the most underserved.

Across Michigan, students of color and students from low-income backgrounds across geographic areas are consistently less likely to be taught by experienced and fully credentialed teachers than their more advantaged peers. Michigan needs a stronger teacher workforce, and one that reflects the diversity of the student body. Our new analysis reveals that while the share of teacher preparation enrollees who are people of color is growing, far fewer complete certification and enter the classroom, and even fewer stay.

This gap in having a strong and diverse workforce across Michigan districts matters for students. When schools and leaders miss the opportunity to recruit, support, and retain a strong and diverse teaching corps, students lose. This report lays out data, explores the root causes of the narrowing teacher pipeline for educators of color, and offers actionable policy and practice recommendations to move Michigan forward.

Key Findings

• Michigan’s teacher workforce does not reflect its student population. In the 2024–25 school year, only 11.3% of Michigan teachers were people of color, compared to nearly 40% of students. This gap persists across geographic regions, including rural, suburban, and urban districts.
• More than one in ten Michigan students attend a school with no teachers of color. Even though fewer than 1% of students attend schools without any students of color, about 11% of students are in schools with zero teachers of color.
• Aspiring teachers of color are entering preparation programs but are not completing them at the same rates. In 2022–23, less than 20% of teacher preparation enrollees were people of color—and only 12% of completers were.
• Once in the profession, teachers of color face workplace conditions that make retention harder. These include feelings of isolation, limited culturally responsive support, and disproportionate unpaid responsibilities like mentoring students and handling student discipline.
• There are signs of progress. Michigan has seen a 34% increase in the number of teachers of color statewide since 2015–16, driven in part by state investment and new pipeline initiatives.

Why it Matters

A teacher’s identity, experience, and credentials matter deeply, especially for students who have historically lacked access to high-quality instruction. When Michigan classrooms lack teachers who mirror the lived experiences of their students, trust, belonging, engagement, and academic success suffer. This isn’t just about fairness, it’s about ensuring every Michigan student, regardless of ZIP code or background, has the opportunity to learn from teachers who are ready, effective, and persistent. Students of all grades who experience a diverse teacher workforce reap benefits, regardless of students’ race or ethnicity. Strong and 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.

By supporting and sustaining a strong and diverse teacher workforce, Michigan strengthens its schools, empowers its communities, and unlocks brighter outcomes for all students.