EPIC
@epicedpolicy.bsky.social
The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at Michigan State University produces "research with consequence." RT≠endorsement
EPIC is hiring! Check out our research specialist position at: bit.ly/3Wex2z9
November 5, 2025 at 7:44 PM
EPIC is hiring! Check out our research specialist position at: bit.ly/3Wex2z9
Read the full report and methods here: bit.ly/47UWWPq
September 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Read the full report and methods here: bit.ly/47UWWPq
Research shows investing more, especially on instructional salaries, improves student outcomes. In Michigan, instructional spending is mostly flat and a larger share now goes to legacy retirement costs, meaning fewer dollars reach classrooms.
September 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Research shows investing more, especially on instructional salaries, improves student outcomes. In Michigan, instructional spending is mostly flat and a larger share now goes to legacy retirement costs, meaning fewer dollars reach classrooms.
Flexible dollars declined. The foundation allowance buys less than it did two decades ago, and it now makes up a much smaller share of district revenue. This has been replaced by more restricted funds, which makes budgeting harder.
September 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Flexible dollars declined. The foundation allowance buys less than it did two decades ago, and it now makes up a much smaller share of district revenue. This has been replaced by more restricted funds, which makes budgeting harder.
Adjusting for inflation, funding rose through the early 2000s, fell for an extended period, and has partially rebounded since 2022. Even with recent gains, totals remain below the early-2000s peak, and some growth came from time-limited aid related to the pandemic.
September 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Adjusting for inflation, funding rose through the early 2000s, fell for an extended period, and has partially rebounded since 2022. Even with recent gains, totals remain below the early-2000s peak, and some growth came from time-limited aid related to the pandemic.
Student needs have grown. The shares of students with disabilities, at risk, and English learners are all higher today than two decades ago. Serving students with higher needs takes more resources to achieve the same outcomes.
September 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Student needs have grown. The shares of students with disabilities, at risk, and English learners are all higher today than two decades ago. Serving students with higher needs takes more resources to achieve the same outcomes.
Understanding Michigan’s K-12 funding story starts with demographics: statewide enrollment has fallen since it peaked in the early 2000s. Smaller systems have higher per-pupil fixed costs, but in Michigan when enrollment falls, revenues do too.
September 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Understanding Michigan’s K-12 funding story starts with demographics: statewide enrollment has fallen since it peaked in the early 2000s. Smaller systems have higher per-pupil fixed costs, but in Michigan when enrollment falls, revenues do too.
How to fund teacher raises?
1- 73 % back more state funding for K-12 education.
2- A majority favors shifting $$ from non-education budget areas.
3- Fewer than 1 in 5 would cut school programs or grow class sizes.
1- 73 % back more state funding for K-12 education.
2- A majority favors shifting $$ from non-education budget areas.
3- Fewer than 1 in 5 would cut school programs or grow class sizes.
August 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
How to fund teacher raises?
1- 73 % back more state funding for K-12 education.
2- A majority favors shifting $$ from non-education budget areas.
3- Fewer than 1 in 5 would cut school programs or grow class sizes.
1- 73 % back more state funding for K-12 education.
2- A majority favors shifting $$ from non-education budget areas.
3- Fewer than 1 in 5 would cut school programs or grow class sizes.
Michiganders support action on teacher pay: 75 % say starting pay should rise, tagging a “fair” salary at $54.6k, a raise of about $13k. There is also strong support for raising average teacher pay, with support for a raise of about $2,400.
August 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Michiganders support action on teacher pay: 75 % say starting pay should rise, tagging a “fair” salary at $54.6k, a raise of about $13k. There is also strong support for raising average teacher pay, with support for a raise of about $2,400.
Since 2021, MI starting pay has inched up slightly, while other states sprinted ahead. Average starting salaries are nearly $4,900 below the national average, and the state is now 44th on this measure, sliding 5 spots in recent years.
August 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Since 2021, MI starting pay has inched up slightly, while other states sprinted ahead. Average starting salaries are nearly $4,900 below the national average, and the state is now 44th on this measure, sliding 5 spots in recent years.
📚 It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! 👩🏫Huge thanks to the wonderful educators who work so hard to support their students, schools, and communities. We appreciate all that you do – THANK YOU!
May 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
📚 It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! 👩🏫Huge thanks to the wonderful educators who work so hard to support their students, schools, and communities. We appreciate all that you do – THANK YOU!
It’s Grad Student Appreciation Week! Thanks to research assistants Caroline Bartlett, Jennifer Moriarty, Shane Turnage, Matthew Guzman, Marcus Dockerty, Dasmen Richards, Kuma Okoro, Soo Lee, Cristina Stanojevich, Seth Walker, Tyler Powell, Ryan Nowak, and Andrew Johnson.
April 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
It’s Grad Student Appreciation Week! Thanks to research assistants Caroline Bartlett, Jennifer Moriarty, Shane Turnage, Matthew Guzman, Marcus Dockerty, Dasmen Richards, Kuma Okoro, Soo Lee, Cristina Stanojevich, Seth Walker, Tyler Powell, Ryan Nowak, and Andrew Johnson.
Many rural districts are susceptible to acute teacher shortages due to their small size and limited supply new teachers. With few graduates who become teachers and less access to nearby prep programs, these districts rely more on teachers from non-traditional pathways.
January 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Many rural districts are susceptible to acute teacher shortages due to their small size and limited supply new teachers. With few graduates who become teachers and less access to nearby prep programs, these districts rely more on teachers from non-traditional pathways.
Vacancy rates are higher for special ed than any other type of teaching position; many districts reported >10% of their special ed FTEs vacant. Mobility & attrition rates are high for these positions, and many districts rely on under-credentialed teachers to fill them.
January 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Vacancy rates are higher for special ed than any other type of teaching position; many districts reported >10% of their special ed FTEs vacant. Mobility & attrition rates are high for these positions, and many districts rely on under-credentialed teachers to fill them.
Early-career teachers make up a larger share of the workforce than at any other time in the past decade. While most are recent grads from teacher certification programs, many are trainees with temporary or interim credentials.
January 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Early-career teachers make up a larger share of the workforce than at any other time in the past decade. While most are recent grads from teacher certification programs, many are trainees with temporary or interim credentials.
For the last 3 years, MI’s teacher workforce has been growing larger but also facing high turnover. While turnover rates started to stabilize in 2023-24, they remain elevated above pre-pandemic levels.
January 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
For the last 3 years, MI’s teacher workforce has been growing larger but also facing high turnover. While turnover rates started to stabilize in 2023-24, they remain elevated above pre-pandemic levels.
Average scores were consistently higher for students who had more access to in-person instruction in 2020-21. In both subjects, disparities between districts offering different instructional modalities emerged/widened in 2020-21 and persisted through 2023-24.
December 18, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Average scores were consistently higher for students who had more access to in-person instruction in 2020-21. In both subjects, disparities between districts offering different instructional modalities emerged/widened in 2020-21 and persisted through 2023-24.
Targets for “typical” growth represent pre-COVID national medians for a given test, subject, grade, and initial achievement level—62% of MI students met or exceeded their math targets in 2023-24 (above the 50% norm) and 50% did so in reading (equal to the norm).
December 18, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Targets for “typical” growth represent pre-COVID national medians for a given test, subject, grade, and initial achievement level—62% of MI students met or exceeded their math targets in 2023-24 (above the 50% norm) and 50% did so in reading (equal to the norm).
While average reading scores changed little since spring 2021 relative to pre-pandemic norms, gaps in reading achievement narrowed in 2023-24. Upward shifts in the 10th-25th percentiles for some grade levels indicate progress among lower-scoring students.
December 18, 2024 at 5:43 PM
While average reading scores changed little since spring 2021 relative to pre-pandemic norms, gaps in reading achievement narrowed in 2023-24. Upward shifts in the 10th-25th percentiles for some grade levels indicate progress among lower-scoring students.
The report shows substantial recovery in math but little change in reading. After falling from the 44th to the 41st percentile in 2020-21, math scores increased over the next 3 years and nearly reached the pre-pandemic national median in spring 2024.
December 18, 2024 at 5:43 PM
The report shows substantial recovery in math but little change in reading. After falling from the 44th to the 41st percentile in 2020-21, math scores increased over the next 3 years and nearly reached the pre-pandemic national median in spring 2024.
The report focuses on three key areas for Partnership schools and districts: teacher recruitment and retention, curriculum and instruction, and attendance/chronic absenteeism. It also describes the role of support provided by ISDs/RESAs and the Office of Partnership Districts.
December 12, 2024 at 3:58 PM
The report focuses on three key areas for Partnership schools and districts: teacher recruitment and retention, curriculum and instruction, and attendance/chronic absenteeism. It also describes the role of support provided by ISDs/RESAs and the Office of Partnership Districts.