Michigan spending $50 million to pay for tuition, other costs of student teachers

In Michigan, student teachers now have the chance to earn up to $9,600 a semester, a move designed to address educator shortages in many parts of the state. Often the last part of a college student’s journey to completing a teacher-preparation pathway and earning state certification, student teaching has typically been an unpaid position, one that can last a semester or a full year depending on the college.

Michigan’s new education budget (SB 845) appropriates $50 million for higher-education institutions to offset the costs of a student teacher’s tuition, living expenses or child care (up to $9,600 per student, per semester). Also in the new budget:

• money to provide $10,000 in scholarships to 2,500 future educators (known as the MI Future Educator Fellowship);
• $175 million in grants for schools to help existing employees earn their teacher certification (known as “grow your own”); and
• $15 million for school districts to offer a paid mentorship and salary for military veterans seeking teacher certification.

In the Midwest, most states have reported drops in recent years in the number of individuals completing teacher preparation programs.