LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – An assembly of 39 intermediate school districts from throughout Michigan are calling for an update to new teacher certification standards that would eliminate the requirement of a bachelor’s degree. 

Michigan would potentially join several other states including Arizona and Florida who have lifted the requirements of a bachelor’s degree for their teachers.  In Arizona’s case, they can begin teacher training provided they are enrolled in a college and supervised by a licensed teacher, but in the case of a vacancy, the school can issue an emergency teacher certificate to allow them to fill the role.  Florida has allowed veterans without degrees to enroll in a five year teaching certificate with a few other testing requirements. 

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Founded in May, the Talent Together partnership of intermediate school districts said that between 2008 and 2016, enrollment dropped 66% in Michigan teaching programs.  The group believes that revoking the bachelor’s degree requirement might be best to combat the trends. 

“The educator shortage crisis in Michigan is among the worst in the country,” Superintendent Naomi Norman of Washtenaw ISD said, “This Talent Together initiative is a response that has the opportunity to impact this pipeline on a statewide scale. Talent Together is committed to building a statewide program that is focused on quality.”  

The group’s proposal would be a certification process that allows applicants to become teachers more quickly and easily switch to teaching from other occupations.  This expedited training could help fill the chronically challenging roles of special education, early childhood development and elementary, as well as Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) positions in middle and high schools.  Some projections of the program are very optimistic. 

“This program will produce hundreds of additional teachers in the next five years,” Superintendent Scott Koziol of Charlevoix-Emmet ISD said.  

For some, the current model is not working effectively to bring in teachers and keep them for the long term.  

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“The current model is when you go to a university, it’s theory, theory, theory, then practice,” Superintendent Eric Hoppstock of the Berrien County Regional Educational Service Agency, said during a press conference Tuesday. “We’re really promoting practice, theory, practice, theory, practice, theory” under the supervision of an experienced teacher.”

The state recently allocated $175 million to help address the teacher shortage.  The Talent Together group plans to apply for a portion of the budget in order to help with the cost of the program and reduce costs for its members.  

Currently, prospective teachers in Michigan must satisfy several requirements, including hold at least a bachelor’s degree and complete an approved teacher preparation program.  Within these programs applicants must complete required reading courses, a first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation course, and pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC).