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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

Read the full report and methods here: bit.ly/47UWWPq

EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

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 This has been replaced by more restricted funds, which makes budgeting harder.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

New EPIC report: three decades of Michigan school finance—what’s changed, what $ reaches classrooms, and what that means for students. Read: bit.ly/47UWWPq

Education Policy Innovation Collaborative | Funding Michigan’s Future: Three Decades of School Finance and the Policy Questions Ahead | Teacher Workforce

Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, a research center devoted to rigorous evidence about education policy. Producing research with consequence

bit.ly

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 7

“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

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 7

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 7

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 7

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 7

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 7

NEW from EPIC: Michigan teacher pay keeps sliding, but public opinion signals a desire for action. Teacher salaries have declined relative to inflation, other states, and other industries. Read on for more on our findings 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

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jul 23

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

EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jul 23

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jul 23

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!

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jul 23

Teacher shortages are a critical issue, particularly in urban & rural areas, special ed, and STEM subjects. Learn how Michigan is investing over $275M in Grow-Your-Own (GYO) teacher initiatives to address challenges & diversify the educator workforce. 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

epicedpolicy.org

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · May 6

📚 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!

EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Apr 7

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.

EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jan 24

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.

EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jan 24

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jan 24

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jan 24

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jan 24

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.

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EPIC @epicedpolicy.bsky.social · Jan 24

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.

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