Noteworthy News
New Mentoring and Induction Standards Approved
The Standards for the Mentoring and Induction of New Teachers, School Counselors, and Administrators have been approved. As part of the mentoring and induction grants from Section 27h of the fiscal year 2024 State School Aid Act, MDE has worked with Western Michigan University to create standards, curricula, and professional learning for new teachers, administrators, and school counselors.
An advisory board of 15 members, along with 300-plus other contributors, consisting of teachers, school counselors, administrators, and representatives from educational organizations, higher education institutions, and alternative route providers, consulted on the project. MDE then solicited public comment on the new standards before approval. These standards will help intermediate school districts and local education agencies, both traditional public school districts and public school academies, to better implement mentoring and induction programs to increase retention of both new and mentor teachers. For more information, refer to the April 16th memo to districts or the Mentoring and Induction Grants webpage. View the new standards:
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Updates to Educator Workforce Data Dashboard
The Office of Educator Excellence’s Educator Workforce Data Dashboard is a reliable public resource for commonly requested metrics on the educator pipeline, supporting transparency and data-informed decision-making.
The dashboard currently includes data through the 2024–25 academic year, with the most recent update released in March 2026. It provides key statewide indicators on educator workforce trends in an accessible, easy-to-use format.
If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on your use of the dashboard, please contact our Educator Help Desk at MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov.
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Did You Know Michigan has an Advanced Professional Certificate?
Michigan offers an Advanced Professional Teaching Certificate designed to recognize educators who have demonstrated advanced skills in master teaching and/or teacher leadership. Valid for up to five years, this optional certificate highlights significant professional accomplishments and growth beyond the Professional Teaching Certificate. Teachers may apply for the Advanced Professional Certificate at any time after earning a Professional Teaching Certificate, as long as they meet all requirements. Please visit the Advanced Professional Certificate webpage for more information.
Questions regarding the Advanced Professional Certificate may be directed to MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov.
Reminder: Professional Learning Requirements
Teacher Certificate Renewal
Teachers are required by rule to accumulate a total of 150 education-related professional learning hours to renew or progress their teaching certificate. These hours may include college credits, State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs), and District Provided Professional Development (DPPD). To count for recertification, DPPD must be entered as SCECHs by the district or another SCECH provider. If applicable, DPPD hours obtained prior to July 1, 2020, may follow this process for entering DPPD hours into the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). Educators should check their MOECS account to verify their professional learning hours. If an educator finds a discrepancy in SCECH hours, they should contact the SCECH sponsor.
Professional Learning and Mentoring Laws
Districts are required by law to provide at least 5 days (30 hours) of professional development to all teachers annually (MCL 380.1527). Teachers within their first three years of employment in classroom teaching must be assigned a mentor and receive an additional 15 days (90 hours) of professional development over those three years per MCL 380.1526. Districts must maintain documentation related to both professional learning laws and enter new teacher professional learning hours into Field 24 of the Registry of Educational Personnel (REP). In addition, per the administrator evaluation law (MCL 380.1249b), districts are required to assign a mentor or coach to each school administrator (excluding superintendents) for the first 3 years in which the school administrator is in a new administrative position.
School Safety
As part of MCL 380.1526, districts must provide an MDE-approved First Aid/CPR course to teachers in their first year of employment in classroom teaching. Due to this requirement, school safety trainings are accepted as DPPD and count toward recertification.
Helpful resources:
URGENT UPDATE: Expenditure Deadline Changed for FY23 Grow Your Own (GYO) Grants
On May 8, 2026, an unexpected change to the ARPA-funded GYO grant expenditure timeline was introduced by the Project Management Office of the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget. This change now requires all grant expenditures to be made (services rendered and goods received) by 9/30/26, instead of the deadline of 11/29/26 that was previously communicated and contained in the FY23 GYO Monitoring and Expenditure Document.
This change means any expenditure dated October 1, 2026, or later, will be considered unallowable. As a result, districts’ projected underspending data will need to be collected again, since the GYO team recognizes that the revised expenditure date may have influenced how grantees responded to the Underspending Acknowledgment survey in March. A new Qualtrics survey link was distributed on May 15, 2026, to your district's primary contact for the GYO grant.
In addition, the GYO School Staff website has been updated to announce this change. An email announcing this change, as well as the need for a new collection of the underspending data, was distributed to GYO grantees on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Please continue to monitor the website for additional information related to the grant “sunset” and closeout procedures.
Focus Group Opportunity for Mentors and New Educators in Michigan
As part of the Mentoring and Induction Evaluation Grant funded under Section 27h of the State School Aid Act, the American Institutes for Research® (AIR®) is conducting a study to better understand the opportunities and challenges involved with mentoring and induction throughout our state. Over 100 leaders participated in a recent survey about their mentoring and induction programming. As a next step, AIR® is recruiting mentors and new educators to participate in focus groups. Any new teacher, new school counselor, new administrator, or mentor participating in a mentoring and induction program interested in participating in the study should complete this interest form. Participants must be currently employed at an intermediate school district or local education agency, including traditional public schools and public school academies. Focus group participants will receive a $50 gift card as a token of thanks.
"Step Into Our Stories" Learning Bundle
The Step Into Our Stories website provides educators, families, and community members with access to resources designed to strengthen understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences. Users can explore community-developed educational materials, classroom resources, and numerous SCECH-bearing professional learning opportunities developed in collaboration with Indigenous educators, knowledge keepers, and Tribal partners from the federally recognized tribes in Michigan.
The website serves as a growing hub for meaningful learning, relationship-building, and educational support that reflects Indigenous perspectives and experiences across what we now know as Michigan.
Talent Pool
The Michigan Talent Pool is a group of elementary and secondary educators nominated by their supervisors that the Michigan Department of Education draws upon throughout the year when opportunities for engagement and recognition become available.
We welcome recommendations of outstanding classroom teachers and/or principals who exhibit strong potential for professional leadership, and demonstrate the following:
- Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;
- Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom;
- Contributions to education that are largely unheralded, yet are worthy of the spotlight; and
- An engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues, and the community.
Recommendations to the Talent Pool should be submitted by the nominee's supervisor and can be made via the online recommendation form. The nomination form includes a one-page letter of recommendation explaining how the nominee meets the above criteria. Please note that these recommendations are confidential and should not be discussed with the recommended educator or others in your school or community.
Please direct any questions to Jennifer Robel at RobelJ@Michigan.gov.
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