(Source: MIRS.news, Published 01/14/2025)  Michigan’s underserved school districts are disproportionately affected by the current teacher shortage, according to a new Edutrust study. The study reports that the uneven distribution of teachers “contributes to the troubling and persistent disparities in reading and math outcomes for Michigan’s students who have long lacked access to strong educational resources.”   

In districts with the highest concentrations of poverty, students are three times more likely than those in low-poverty districts to be taught by teachers with fewer than three years of teaching experience, according to the study.  

In these high-poverty school districts, more than 16.5% of educators teach out-of-field subjects, a statistic reflecting twice the state average. Students in these districts are 16 times more likely to be taught by an educator with temporary or emergency credentials compared to Michigan’s wealthiest districts.   

“Michigan is facing a teacher shortage crisis that is far worse for our students who have been the most underserved by the educational system,” said Amber Arellano, executive director of EdTrust Midwest. “Too many students from low-income backgrounds, Black and Latino students, and students living in rural and urban areas systematically lack access to strong teachers who are well-prepared and effective in the classroom. That leaves them at a significant disadvantage in their school journey.”  

In districts where the majority of students are Black, students are almost four times more likely to be taught by an educator teaching out of their field and also by a teacher with emergency credentials. Students in these districts are twice as likely to be taught by a beginner teacher compared to primarily white districts.  

The report lists five policy recommendations: “fair and adequate funding now,” “improve state and education data systems,” “prioritize making teaching an attractive and competitive career choice,” “invest in and prioritize support for school administrators which will improve their ability to offer effective, actionable, student-centered support for staff development” and “increase access to high-quality professional development for educators.”   

The salary for Michigan's teachers dropped more than 20% between 1999 and 2019. The report states, “had Michigan’s teacher salaries kept pace with inflation, the average teacher salary today would be more than $81,000.11 Instead, Michigan’s average teacher salary of $64,000 trailed the national average in 2021- 22.”  

“Local districts are being asked to do more than ever while school funding remains largely insufficient,” said Kyle Lim from Grand Rapids-based advocacy organization Urban Core Collective. "Most urban public schools do not have the funds to increase pay immediately. As a state, we need to pressure our legislators to increase education revenue for schools. We cannot simply ask schools to provide the level of service our students deserve if they do not get more money.”