EPIC
@epicedpolicy.bsky.social
The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at Michigan State University produces "research with consequence." RT≠endorsement
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 This has been replaced by more restricted funds, which makes budgeting harder.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 This has been replaced by more restricted funds, which makes budgeting harder.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.
“Low pay makes it tougher to recruit and retain great teachers at a time that they are desperately needed,” says EPIC’s Dr. Jason Burns. Dig into the full report ➡️ bit.ly/4lVIsCW #MIed #TeacherPay
Education Policy Innovation Collaborative | Teacher Compensation: Recent Trends and Public Opinion, 2025 Update | EPIC Reports
Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, a research center devoted to rigorous evidence about education policy. Producing research with consequence
bit.ly
August 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
“Low pay makes it tougher to recruit and retain great teachers at a time that they are desperately needed,” says EPIC’s Dr. Jason Burns. Dig into the full report ➡️ bit.ly/4lVIsCW #MIed #TeacherPay
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.
Average salaries have also fallen, with Michigan teachers earning almost $3000 less than the national average and raking 19th in the country, dropping 3 spots since the 2021-22 school year.
August 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Average salaries have also fallen, with Michigan teachers earning almost $3000 less than the national average and raking 19th in the country, dropping 3 spots since the 2021-22 school year.
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.
Read more about these initiatives and their plans to build a stronger, diverse teaching force statewide in our new report from EPIC here: epicedpolicy.org/gyo-teacher-...
Education Policy Innovation Collaborative | Grow Your Own Teacher Initiatives in Michigan At-A-Glance | Other Publications - Teacher Workforce
Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, a research center devoted to rigorous evidence about education policy. Producing research with consequence
bit.ly
July 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Read more about these initiatives and their plans to build a stronger, diverse teaching force statewide in our new report from EPIC here: epicedpolicy.org/gyo-teacher-...
Michigan’s GYO portfolio includes:
✅ GYO School Staff Grants
✅ Talent Together
✅ EXPLORE elective courses for middle/high school students
✅ LAUNCH credential programs for high schoolers
Each program uniquely supports different pathways into teaching.
✅ GYO School Staff Grants
✅ Talent Together
✅ EXPLORE elective courses for middle/high school students
✅ LAUNCH credential programs for high schoolers
Each program uniquely supports different pathways into teaching.
July 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Michigan’s GYO portfolio includes:
✅ GYO School Staff Grants
✅ Talent Together
✅ EXPLORE elective courses for middle/high school students
✅ LAUNCH credential programs for high schoolers
Each program uniquely supports different pathways into teaching.
✅ GYO School Staff Grants
✅ Talent Together
✅ EXPLORE elective courses for middle/high school students
✅ LAUNCH credential programs for high schoolers
Each program uniquely supports different pathways into teaching.
GYO initiatives recruit future educators from within the local community including students and support staff. These local connections may produce teachers who are more committed & representative of their students. Find out about 4 key state-funded programs in our GYO primer!
July 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
GYO initiatives recruit future educators from within the local community including students and support staff. These local connections may produce teachers who are more committed & representative of their students. Find out about 4 key state-funded programs in our GYO primer!
We appreciate the work of the authors Tara Kilbride, Salem Rogers, Jennifer Moriarty, Tyler Powell and our collaborators at MDE and CEPI - without which this report would not have been possible.
January 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
We appreciate the work of the authors Tara Kilbride, Salem Rogers, Jennifer Moriarty, Tyler Powell and our collaborators at MDE and CEPI - without which this report would not have been possible.
2/3 of grads from traditional in-state programs teach within 30 miles of their hometowns. Teachers who switch districts in their first 5 years typically move closer to home; this is especially true for those from rural areas.
January 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
2/3 of grads from traditional in-state programs teach within 30 miles of their hometowns. Teachers who switch districts in their first 5 years typically move closer to home; this is especially true for those from rural areas.
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.