MICHIGAN – Michigan has made notable progress in diversifying its teaching workforce, according to recent updates from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) presented at a State Board of Education meeting. The state has successfully increased the number of Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino teachers in recent years, with the number of Black teachers rising by the equivalent of 1,317 full-time positions and Hispanic or Latino teachers increasing by 216 positions.
The surge in teacher diversity comes amid broader efforts to address teacher shortages and improve education quality. Certified early childhood teachers in Michigan saw a dramatic 171% increase from the 2017-18 to the 2023-24 school year. There were also significant gains in the number of certified teachers in math (60%), English as a Second Language and bilingual education (53%), and science (31%).
The rebound in teacher preparation program enrollments, which had dropped by 59% from 2011-12 to 2016-17, has seen a 56% increase from 2016-17 to 2021-22. Efforts to attract diverse candidates include scholarships, fellowships, and targeted programs, such as the MI Fellowship program, which offered $10,000 scholarships to nearly 2,500 future educators, and stipends to student teachers.
State funding has played a crucial role in these efforts. Michigan’s fiscal year 2023 saw $575 million allocated to address teacher shortages, with over $448 million dedicated in fiscal year 2024. This funding supports initiatives like student loan repayments, test reimbursements, and Grow Your Own programs aimed at localizing and diversifying the teacher pipeline.
Dr. Michele Harmala of MDE emphasized the importance of a diverse teaching workforce, noting that students benefit both socially and academically from having teachers who reflect their own backgrounds. Despite the progress, she acknowledged that more work remains to fully align the teacher workforce with the diversity of Michigan’s student population.
