Who’s leading classes? Uncertified teachers for thousands of Michigan kids
Michigan’s public schools are continuing to turn classrooms over to long-term substitute teachers who can have as little as two years of college, according to new state data.
Permits issued this year show the use of long-term subs is on pace to match and most likely exceed last year, when districts used more than 2,500 long-term subs. That was a tenfold increase from four years earlier, a trend that has angered education advocates.
It means another year in which thousands of students will get their math, English and science instruction from non-certified teachers.
“How can you have a quality education when you have people without the tools and background to teach properly?” asked LouAnn Vidmar, a teachers’ union representative in Berrien and Cass counties in southwest Michigan.
- Rich districts profit by sending substitutes to Michigan private schools
- Check to see how many long-term subs are in your Michigan school
So far this year, districts have asked for 1,138 permits for long-term subs. Last year at the same time, districts had requested about 1,000 permits, according to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a Livonia-based nonpartisan research firm.
By the end of last school year (2018-19), more than 2,500 long-term subs were used, Bridge reported in August.
Educators and politicians have lamented the use of the subs because most do not have the skills or knowledge that a certified teacher would have.
Michigan schools' long-term subs, 2019-20
Many Michigan school districts are turning to long-term subs for help. Here are all districts that had at least one long-term sub last year and how many permits for long-term subs they've requested through late September of this year. Note: the number of long-term sub permits issued typically grows throughout the year. Type in any portion of a district's name to see how many permits it may have requested so far this year.
District, percent of students considered poor and enrollment | Long-term subs | ||
---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | 2019-20 | ||
Dearborn City School District 75.8% poor students 20,740 students | 104 | 57 | |
Detroit Public Schools Community District 85.9% poor students 50,176 students | 92 | 117 | |
Michigan Educational Choice Center 100% poor students 263 students | 10 | 0 | |
Timbuktu Academy 100% poor students 436 students | 11 | 0 | |
Benton Harbor Area Schools 82.9% poor students 1,941 students | 41 | 19 | |
Pathways Academy 98.6% poor students 148 students | 5 | 0 | |
Berkley School District 18.1% poor students 4,377 students | 38 | 7 | |
Lansing Public School District 71.5% poor students 10,652 students | 35 | 16 | |
Brighton Area Schools 13.9% poor students 5,998 students | 33 | 13 | |
Grand Rapids Public Schools 73.7% poor students 16,006 students | 31 | 24 | |
Universal Academy 98.4% poor students 728 students | 30 | 16 | |
Vista Meadows Academy 100% poor students 100 students | 7 | 0 | |
Detroit Service Learning Academy 99.5% poor students 1,350 students | 47 | 0 | |
Eagle's Nest Academy 92.5% poor students 187 students | 6 | 1 | |
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy 89.4% poor students 520 students | 16 | 1 | |
Clarkston Community School District 21.3% poor students 7,334 students | 30 | 3 | |
South Redford School District 67.2% poor students 3,238 students | 25 | 18 | |
Battle Creek Public Schools 83.7% poor students 3,911 students | 22 | 0 | |
Joy Preparatory Academy 99.7% poor students 356 students | 16 | 2 | |
Chandler Park Academy 92.4% poor students 2,199 students | 20 | 2 | |
Eaton Academy 78.6% poor students 346 students | 13 | 3 | |
Flint, School District of the City of 90.4% poor students 4,245 students | 22 | 1 | |
Niles Community Schools 57.9% poor students 3,654 students | 19 | 10 | |
The James and Grace Lee Boggs School 75.2% poor students 137 students | 4 | 0 | |
University Preparatory Academy (PSAD) 82.8% poor students 1,940 students | 19 | 8 | |
Detroit Public Safety Academy 95.1% poor students 286 students | 12 | 3 | |
Midland Academy of Advanced and Creative Studies 31.2% poor students 154 students | 8 | 0 | |
Saginaw, School District of the City of 80.5% poor students 5,452 students | 19 | 10 | |
George Crockett Academy 100% poor students 411 students | 13 | 2 | |
Ojibwe Charter School 82% poor students 100 students | 7 | 1 | |
Detroit Leadership Academy 96.6% poor students 796 students | 19 | 0 | |
Inkster Preparatory Academy 89.4% poor students 180 students | 4 | 0 | |
Public Schools of Calumet, Laurium & Keweenaw 54% poor students 1,519 students | 16 | 0 | |
Saginaw Learn to Earn Academy 98.6% poor students 140 students | 4 | 0 | |
Voyageur Academy 95.7% poor students 1,149 students | 29 | 4 | |
Academy for Business and Technology 88.8% poor students 519 students | 18 | 8 | |
Highland Park Public School Academy System 93.8% poor students 372 students | 13 | 1 | |
Three Lakes Academy 72.4% poor students 116 students | 6 | 1 | |
Universal Learning Academy 82.6% poor students 615 students | 19 | 7 | |
Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy 100% poor students 195 students | 6 | 1 | |
Charlton Heston Academy 78.5% poor students 685 students | 20 | 7 | |
Eastpointe Community Schools 79% poor students 2,691 students | 15 | 6 | |
Macomb Montessori Academy 86.6% poor students 201 students | 6 | 2 | |
GEE Edmonson Academy 100% poor students 232 students | 5 | 0 | |
Muskegon, Public Schools of the City of 87.6% poor students 3,589 students | 12 | 0 | |
Garden City Public Schools 60.7% poor students 3,701 students | 11 | 0 | |
American International Academy 90.4% poor students 709 students | 6 | 0 | |
Riverside Academy 99% poor students 999 students | 25 | 4 | |
Bridge Academy 99.5% poor students 773 students | 16 | 11 | |
Detroit Community Schools 99.9% poor students 672 students | 13 | 1 | |
Carrollton Public Schools 78.6% poor students 1,835 students | 11 | 3 | |
Taylor School District 62.3% poor students 6,217 students | 11 | 4 | |
River Rouge, School District of the City of 79.4% poor students 2,279 students | 11 | 2 | |
Waldron Area Schools 66.4% poor students 211 students | 8 | 5 | |
North Saginaw Charter Academy 96.9% poor students 512 students | 13 | 2 | |
Kalamazoo RESA - District created from ISD 52.3% poor students 2,084 students | 11 | 8 | |
International Academy of Saginaw 74.7% poor students 194 students | 5 | 4 | |
Detroit Edison Public School Academy 66.5% poor students 1,287 students | 10 | 8 | |
Grand River Academy 57.6% poor students 788 students | 10 | 3 | |
University Preparatory Science and Math (PSAD) 69.2% poor students 1,479 students | 10 | 14 | |
South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy 51.8% poor students 757 students | 9 | 3 | |
Lansing Charter Academy 89.9% poor students 546 students | 9 | 1 | |
Will Carleton Charter School Academy 26.7% poor students 251 students | 6 | 4 | |
Star International Academy 93.5% poor students 1,562 students | 29 | 16 | |
Hartland Consolidated Schools 16.9% poor students 5,482 students | 8 | 0 | |
Chippewa Valley Schools 29.8% poor students 16,061 students | 8 | 4 | |
Traverse City Area Public Schools 36% poor students 9,433 students | 8 | 7 | |
Keystone Academy 37.4% poor students 779 students | 8 | 1 | |
West Branch-Rose City Area Schools 60.5% poor students 2,043 students | 8 | 0 | |
Kalamazoo Public Schools 71.2% poor students 12,777 students | 8 | 11 | |
Rochester Community School District 11.4% poor students 15,451 students | 7 | 6 | |
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools 26.1% poor students 13,642 students | 7 | 0 | |
Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies (PSAD) 82.3% poor students 1,286 students | 8 | 9 | |
Waterford Montessori Academy 31.1% poor students 309 students | 6 | 0 | |
Conner Creek Academy East 92.8% poor students 932 students | 8 | 3 | |
L'Anse Creuse Public Schools 41.9% poor students 10,392 students | 7 | 1 | |
Harper Woods, The School District of the City of 76.1% poor students 2,349 students | 7 | 3 | |
Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy 63% poor students 579 students | 7 | 5 | |
Redford Union Schools, District No. 1 76.3% poor students 2,392 students | 7 | 0 | |
ACE Academy (SDA) 100% poor students 186 students | 2 | 0 | |
Avondale School District 45.1% poor students 3,779 students | 6 | 0 | |
Windemere Park Charter Academy 74.9% poor students 637 students | 7 | 4 | |
Tipton Academy 69.9% poor students 508 students | 7 | 0 | |
Oakland International Academy 99.2% poor students 852 students | 7 | 0 | |
Landmark Academy 67.7% poor students 775 students | 7 | 2 | |
Francis Reh PSA 97.8% poor students 455 students | 9 | 3 | |
David Ellis Academy West 69.2% poor students 743 students | 7 | 0 | |
Quest Charter Academy 75.4% poor students 769 students | 7 | 4 | |
Oak Park, School District of the City of 81.4% poor students 4,368 students | 6 | 0 | |
Onekama Consolidated Schools 53.5% poor students 415 students | 6 | 0 | |
Sarah J. Webber Media Arts Academy 88.6% poor students 219 students | 2 | 2 | |
Academy of Warren 95.7% poor students 678 students | 7 | 2 | |
Lighthouse Academy 95.2% poor students 353 students | 7 | 0 | |
West Michigan Aviation Academy 26.5% poor students 611 students | 7 | 3 | |
Hope of Detroit Academy 95.8% poor students 957 students | 19 | 9 | |
Triumph Academy 54.9% poor students 728 students | 6 | 1 | |
Big Bay De Noc School District 69.1% poor students 165 students | 5 | 0 | |
Fortis Academy 79.1% poor students 745 students | 6 | 5 | |
East Arbor Charter Academy 53.2% poor students 694 students | 6 | 4 | |
Laurus Academy 73.4% poor students 744 students | 6 | 1 | |
The Dearborn Academy 99.4% poor students 509 students | 13 | 3 | |
Metro Charter Academy 74.8% poor students 726 students | 6 | 3 | |
Great Oaks Academy 93.2% poor students 734 students | 6 | 1 | |
Detroit Enterprise Academy 96.1% poor students 738 students | 6 | 2 | |
Hillsdale Preparatory School 50% poor students 132 students | 3 | 2 | |
The Woodley Leadership Academy 90.7% poor students 182 students | 3 | 0 | |
LifeTech Academy 51.6% poor students 161 students | 2 | 2 | |
International Academy of Flint 84.3% poor students 917 students | 15 | 4 | |
Paramount Charter Academy 92.7% poor students 451 students | 6 | 4 | |
Trillium Academy 71.2% poor students 594 students | 6 | 3 | |
George Washington Carver Academy 99.6% poor students 537 students | 9 | 0 | |
Flat River Academy 78.8% poor students 146 students | 5 | 1 | |
Dove Academy of Detroit 88.1% poor students 469 students | 6 | 0 | |
West Village Academy 70.8% poor students 353 students | 6 | 1 | |
Countryside Academy 88% poor students 756 students | 6 | 1 | |
Bessemer Area School District 59.1% poor students 408 students | 5 | 1 | |
Flagship Charter Academy 98.1% poor students 698 students | 13 | 6 | |
GEE White Academy 99.7% poor students 374 students | 7 | 0 | |
Bradford Academy 83.2% poor students 1,416 students | 6 | 4 | |
Linden Charter Academy 98.1% poor students 791 students | 13 | 0 | |
Crescent Academy 88.9% poor students 962 students | 15 | 9 | |
Legacy Charter Academy 97.9% poor students 747 students | 14 | 8 | |
Grand Traverse Academy 25.8% poor students 896 students | 5 | 1 | |
Weston Preparatory Academy 90.6% poor students 297 students | 4 | 0 | |
Three Oaks Public School Academy 100% poor students 350 students | 6 | 0 | |
Menominee Area Public Schools 53.9% poor students 1,307 students | 5 | 9 | |
Parchment School District 54.1% poor students 1,603 students | 5 | 2 | |
St. Ignace Area Schools 53.2% poor students 511 students | 5 | 0 | |
Tahquamenon Area Schools 59.9% poor students 599 students | 5 | 1 | |
Ironwood Area Schools of Gogebic County 56.9% poor students 765 students | 5 | 1 | |
Northwest Community Schools 62.3% poor students 3,558 students | 5 | 1 | |
Southgate Community School District 51.7% poor students 3,526 students | 5 | 2 | |
Jackson Public Schools 71% poor students 4,770 students | 5 | 0 | |
Warrendale Charter Academy 98.3% poor students 753 students | 5 | 3 | |
Mid Peninsula School District 65.5% poor students 174 students | 4 | 4 | |
Ann Arbor Public Schools 25% poor students 18,055 students | 4 | 0 | |
Old Redford Academy 75.9% poor students 1,784 students | 26 | 12 | |
Advanced Technology Academy 92.7% poor students 1,296 students | 5 | 4 | |
Detroit Premier Academy 95.7% poor students 770 students | 12 | 6 | |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Education Center Academy 85.6% poor students 397 students | 5 | 5 | |
Cesar Chavez Academy 97.5% poor students 2,291 students | 37 | 6 | |
Copper Country ISD - District created from ISD 74.2% poor students 248 students | 5 | 1 | |
Detroit Innovation Academy 97.2% poor students 393 students | 4 | 1 | |
Bay City Academy 76.2% poor students 365 students | 6 | 0 | |
Grand Ledge Public Schools 28% poor students 5,328 students | 4 | 1 | |
Midland Public Schools 33.2% poor students 7,642 students | 4 | 1 | |
Hancock Public Schools 47.6% poor students 701 students | 4 | 3 | |
Boyne City Public Schools 49.4% poor students 1,349 students | 4 | 0 | |
Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools 55.7% poor students 2,023 students | 4 | 1 | |
Frontier International Academy 98.9% poor students 640 students | 8 | 6 | |
Grand Blanc Community Schools 34.3% poor students 8,260 students | 4 | 2 | |
Greenville Public Schools 56.7% poor students 3,729 students | 4 | 1 | |
North Branch Area Schools 47.4% poor students 2,353 students | 4 | 0 | |
Alcona Community Schools 67.6% poor students 686 students | 4 | 5 | |
Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac 76.6% poor students 843 students | 5 | 5 | |
Taylor Exemplar Academy 71% poor students 792 students | 4 | 2 | |
Warren Consolidated Schools 64.7% poor students 13,767 students | 4 | 2 | |
Distinctive College Prep. 89.7% poor students 465 students | 4 | 6 | |
Benzie County Central Schools 59.5% poor students 1,414 students | 4 | 0 | |
Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area K-12 School 51.9% poor students 337 students | 4 | 0 | |
Harper Creek Community Schools 41% poor students 2,828 students | 4 | 0 | |
Holton Public Schools 70.6% poor students 837 students | 4 | 0 | |
Canton Charter Academy 18.8% poor students 749 students | 4 | 2 | |
Jonesville Community Schools 52.6% poor students 1,446 students | 4 | 1 | |
Flextech High School Shepherd 60% poor students 35 students | 1 | 1 | |
Monroe Public Schools 60.7% poor students 5,232 students | 4 | 3 | |
Romulus Community Schools 75.7% poor students 2,577 students | 4 | 0 | |
Michigan International Prep School 67% poor students 449 students | 2 | 0 | |
Ypsilanti Community Schools 65.3% poor students 3,840 students | 4 | 5 | |
Charyl Stockwell Academy 16.2% poor students 1,118 students | 4 | 3 | |
Beecher Community School District 93% poor students 755 students | 4 | 0 | |
Summit Academy North 66.3% poor students 1,842 students | 4 | 0 | |
Hope Academy 87.6% poor students 534 students | 4 | 2 | |
Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy 99.8% poor students 817 students | 13 | 5 | |
Birmingham Public Schools 8.8% poor students 8,072 students | 3 | 0 | |
Burton Glen Charter Academy 97.2% poor students 599 students | 4 | 0 | |
Jalen Rose Leadership Academy 90.3% poor students 413 students | 4 | 2 | |
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System 93.5% poor students 644 students | 3 | 16 | |
Multicultural Academy 92.4% poor students 171 students | 3 | 1 | |
Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy 12.5% poor students 769 students | 3 | 0 | |
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools 20.5% poor students 17,491 students | 3 | 2 | |
Hamilton Community Schools 27.1% poor students 2,729 students | 3 | 1 | |
Mattawan Consolidated School 18% poor students 3,756 students | 3 | 0 | |
Grosse Pointe Public Schools 18.8% poor students 7,652 students | 3 | 1 | |
Oxford Community Schools 24.7% poor students 5,589 students | 3 | 1 | |
Whiteford Agricultural School District of the Counties of Lenawee and Monroe 28.5% poor students 752 students | 3 | 0 | |
Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb) 42.4% poor students 4,375 students | 3 | 0 | |
Davison Community Schools 44.3% poor students 5,723 students | 3 | 1 | |
Howell Public Schools 27.4% poor students 6,973 students | 3 | 2 | |
Gull Lake Community Schools 23.8% poor students 3,231 students | 3 | 0 | |
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Schools 51% poor students 914 students | 3 | 2 | |
Croswell-Lexington Community Schools 52.4% poor students 2,148 students | 3 | 0 | |
Stockbridge Community Schools 40.8% poor students 1,249 students | 3 | 0 | |
Hemlock Public School District 32.3% poor students 1,213 students | 3 | 2 | |
Iron Mountain Public Schools 48.9% poor students 883 students | 3 | 1 | |
Posen Consolidated School District No. 9 59.6% poor students 213 students | 3 | 2 | |
Ontonagon Area School District 52% poor students 275 students | 3 | 3 | |
Britton Deerfield Schools 51.4% poor students 533 students | 3 | 0 | |
Mancelona Public Schools 71.3% poor students 936 students | 3 | 3 | |
Eaton Rapids Public Schools 55.3% poor students 2,296 students | 3 | 2 | |
Lamphere Public Schools 50.6% poor students 2,484 students | 3 | 2 | |
Montague Area Public Schools 49.7% poor students 1,514 students | 3 | 0 | |
Bay City School District 52.5% poor students 7,504 students | 3 | 1 | |
Onaway Area Community School District 56.8% poor students 604 students | 3 | 0 | |
Alpena Public Schools 58% poor students 3,753 students | 3 | 1 | |
Warren Woods Public Schools 58.3% poor students 3,244 students | 3 | 0 | |
Breckenridge Community Schools 54.6% poor students 668 students | 3 | 0 | |
Oakridge Public Schools 63.6% poor students 2,042 students | 3 | 1 | |
Grant Public School District 57.2% poor students 1,799 students | 3 | 3 | |
Pellston Public Schools 69.9% poor students 495 students | 3 | 4 | |
Cassopolis Public Schools 60.7% poor students 957 students | 3 | 0 | |
Vista Charter Academy 93.7% poor students 702 students | 3 | 0 | |
Hanley International Academy 94.6% poor students 647 students | 3 | 1 | |
Huron Academy 61% poor students 620 students | 3 | 0 | |
Reach Charter Academy 91.3% poor students 652 students | 3 | 2 | |
Kalkaska Public Schools 65.1% poor students 1,472 students | 3 | 2 | |
Coloma Community Schools 73.9% poor students 1,341 students | 3 | 0 | |
South Lake Schools 66.8% poor students 1,619 students | 3 | 0 | |
Carney-Nadeau Public Schools 64.1% poor students 287 students | 3 | 3 | |
Madison Academy 86% poor students 414 students | 3 | 3 | |
Shelby Public Schools 71.7% poor students 1,265 students | 3 | 4 | |
Pembroke Academy 93% poor students 244 students | 3 | 2 | |
Caniff Liberty Academy 99% poor students 481 students | 3 | 0 | |
Hillman Community Schools 67.4% poor students 411 students | 3 | 0 | |
Clintondale Community Schools 79.5% poor students 2,725 students | 3 | 1 | |
Endeavor Charter Academy 84.2% poor students 679 students | 3 | 1 | |
Westwood Heights Schools 92.2% poor students 1,510 students | 3 | 0 | |
Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence 82.2% poor students 835 students | 3 | 2 | |
Escuela Avancemos 98.3% poor students 301 students | 3 | 0 | |
Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy 88.2% poor students 186 students | 3 | 0 | |
State Street Academy 82.5% poor students 120 students | 2 | 0 | |
Greater Heights Academy 97.3% poor students 262 students | 5 | 1 | |
Ecorse Public Schools 81.7% poor students 1,055 students | 3 | 5 | |
MacDowell Preparatory Academy 98.6% poor students 366 students | 3 | 2 | |
Pontiac Academy for Excellence 75.3% poor students 774 students | 3 | 0 | |
Powell Township Schools 62.9% poor students 35 students | 2 | 0 | |
Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy 98.7% poor students 238 students | 3 | 0 | |
Detroit Merit Charter Academy 92.3% poor students 737 students | 12 | 3 | |
Oakside Scholars Charter Academy 92.8% poor students 739 students | 11 | 7 | |
Covenant House Academy Detroit 96.2% poor students 501 students | 3 | 5 | |
Lewis Cass ISD - District created from ISD 64.4% poor students 284 students | 3 | 1 | |
Midland County Educational Service Agency - District created from ISD 66.4% poor students 1,775 students | 3 | 2 | |
Montcalm Area ISD - District created from ISD 51.8% poor students 525 students | 3 | 0 | |
Lenawee ISD - District created from ISD 57.7% poor students 596 students | 3 | 0 | |
Ottawa Area ISD - District created from ISD 50.1% poor students 1,426 students | 3 | 3 | |
Calhoun Intermediate School District - District created from ISD 60.3% poor students 1,208 students | 3 | 0 | |
Lakeside Charter School - Kalamazoo 99.6% poor students 244 students | 4 | 1 | |
Achieve Charter Academy 14.3% poor students 763 students | 2 | 3 | |
Forest Hills Public Schools 11.8% poor students 9,774 students | 2 | 0 | |
St. Joseph Public Schools 31% poor students 3,003 students | 2 | 2 | |
South Canton Scholars Charter Academy 27.2% poor students 780 students | 2 | 3 | |
Lakeshore School District (Berrien) 30.7% poor students 2,785 students | 2 | 2 | |
Merritt Academy 50.4% poor students 552 students | 2 | 3 | |
Jenison Public Schools 30.9% poor students 5,094 students | 2 | 0 | |
Grand Blanc Academy 88% poor students 384 students | 6 | 3 | |
Zeeland Public Schools 26.2% poor students 6,241 students | 2 | 0 | |
Linden Community Schools 27.1% poor students 2,713 students | 2 | 1 | |
East Lansing School District 33.9% poor students 3,607 students | 2 | 1 | |
New Lothrop Area Public Schools 24.7% poor students 916 students | 2 | 1 | |
Crawford AuSable Schools 56.9% poor students 1,571 students | 2 | 2 | |
Plainwell Community Schools 29% poor students 2,780 students | 2 | 2 | |
Livonia Public Schools School District 33.8% poor students 14,184 students | 2 | 1 | |
Huron Valley Schools 27.3% poor students 8,987 students | 2 | 0 | |
Royal Oak Schools 23.6% poor students 4,995 students | 2 | 1 | |
Farmington Public School District 26.2% poor students 9,539 students | 2 | 1 | |
West Bloomfield School District 34.6% poor students 5,476 students | 2 | 0 | |
Hamtramck Academy 98.3% poor students 537 students | 2 | 1 | |
Charlevoix Public Schools 43.9% poor students 872 students | 2 | 1 | |
Breitung Township School District 43.1% poor students 1,893 students | 2 | 0 | |
Gobles Public School District 58.3% poor students 772 students | 2 | 0 | |
Concord Academy - Boyne 44.3% poor students 158 students | 2 | 1 | |
West Ottawa Public School District 55% poor students 6,712 students | 2 | 0 | |
Crossroads Charter Academy 57.1% poor students 595 students | 2 | 0 | |
Laingsburg Community Schools 27.4% poor students 1,125 students | 2 | 0 | |
Saginaw Township Community Schools 47.9% poor students 4,803 students | 2 | 0 | |
Manistique Area Schools 56.5% poor students 816 students | 2 | 0 | |
Reeths-Puffer Schools 45.7% poor students 3,710 students | 2 | 0 | |
Knapp Charter Academy 68.9% poor students 745 students | 2 | 1 | |
Kentwood Public Schools 72.7% poor students 9,284 students | 2 | 0 | |
Three Rivers Community Schools 56.4% poor students 2,564 students | 2 | 0 | |
Four Corners Montessori Academy 35.4% poor students 441 students | 2 | 0 | |
Clio Area School District 53.5% poor students 2,918 students | 2 | 0 | |
Michigan Connections Academy 57.3% poor students 1,722 students | 2 | 1 | |
Holland City School District 64.5% poor students 3,364 students | 2 | 0 | |
Pinckney Community Schools 20% poor students 2,602 students | 2 | 1 | |
Buckley Community Schools 49.1% poor students 409 students | 2 | 2 | |
Shepherd Public Schools 47.2% poor students 1,811 students | 2 | 0 | |
Kingston Community School District 56.6% poor students 595 students | 2 | 0 | |
Ellsworth Community School 54.3% poor students 256 students | 2 | 1 | |
Lawrence Public Schools 64.6% poor students 570 students | 2 | 3 | |
South Arbor Charter Academy 22.5% poor students 796 students | 2 | 1 | |
Wyandotte, School District of the City of 57.9% poor students 4,792 students | 2 | 0 | |
Corunna Public Schools 53.8% poor students 1,811 students | 2 | 1 | |
Camden-Frontier School 58.7% poor students 504 students | 2 | 3 | |
Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated School District 55.5% poor students 191 students | 2 | 2 | |
L'Anse Area Schools 63.1% poor students 605 students | 2 | 3 | |
Reese Public Schools 51.1% poor students 805 students | 2 | 0 | |
Brimley Area Schools 59.1% poor students 536 students | 2 | 0 | |
Farwell Area Schools 61.2% poor students 1,158 students | 2 | 0 | |
Morenci Area Schools 62.5% poor students 650 students | 2 | 2 | |
Suttons Bay Public Schools 57.2% poor students 612 students | 2 | 0 | |
North Star Academy 58.4% poor students 267 students | 2 | 6 | |
Colon Community School District 54.7% poor students 550 students | 2 | 2 | |
Houghton Lake Community Schools 76.8% poor students 1,249 students | 2 | 1 | |
Engadine Consolidated Schools 69.9% poor students 359 students | 2 | 0 | |
Mendon Community School District 52.5% poor students 510 students | 2 | 2 | |
Mio-AuSable Schools 73.4% poor students 533 students | 2 | 2 | |
Harrison Community Schools 78.1% poor students 1,418 students | 2 | 1 | |
Peck Community School District 60.5% poor students 349 students | 2 | 0 | |
Northport Public School District 65.2% poor students 141 students | 2 | 2 | |
Marshall Academy 57.7% poor students 272 students | 2 | 0 | |
Noor International Academy 66.2% poor students 154 students | 2 | 3 | |
Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools 81.7% poor students 4,708 students | 2 | 0 | |
Lake City Area School District 65.7% poor students 1,166 students | 2 | 1 | |
AGBU Alex-Marie Manoogian School 55.4% poor students 399 students | 2 | 1 | |
Island City Academy 27.9% poor students 204 students | 2 | 0 | |
American Montessori Academy 65.4% poor students 486 students | 2 | 4 | |
Van Buren Public Schools 57.6% poor students 4,603 students | 2 | 0 | |
Baldwin Community Schools 95.3% poor students 515 students | 2 | 1 | |
Fitzgerald Public Schools 69% poor students 2,546 students | 2 | 1 | |
Walton Charter Academy 93.6% poor students 815 students | 2 | 0 | |
Ashley Community Schools 71.4% poor students 259 students | 2 | 0 | |
Walden Green Montessori 38.8% poor students 245 students | 2 | 0 | |
River City Scholars Charter Academy 92.9% poor students 477 students | 2 | 0 | |
Lincoln Park, School District of the City of 72.7% poor students 4,804 students | 2 | 0 | |
Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren) 76.1% poor students 1,118 students | 2 | 0 | |
Southwest Detroit Community School 93.8% poor students 386 students | 2 | 0 | |
Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy 98.1% poor students 749 students | 12 | 4 | |
East Jackson Community Schools 64.7% poor students 940 students | 2 | 3 | |
Old Mission Peninsula School 19.4% poor students 134 students | 3 | 0 | |
Woodland Park Academy 80.6% poor students 386 students | 2 | 2 | |
David Ellis Academy 92.8% poor students 304 students | 2 | 6 | |
Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts 93.5% poor students 520 students | 2 | 0 | |
Saginaw Preparatory Academy 97.1% poor students 308 students | 2 | 3 | |
Pansophia Academy 81.6% poor students 419 students | 2 | 1 | |
Plymouth Educational Center Charter School 84.2% poor students 507 students | 2 | 1 | |
New Paradigm Glazer-Loving Academy 99.4% poor students 341 students | 3 | 0 | |
Charlevoix Montessori Academy for the Arts 76.2% poor students 42 students | 2 | 3 | |
Hope Academy of West Michigan 92.5% poor students 371 students | 2 | 1 | |
Insight School of Michigan 74% poor students 769 students | 2 | 0 | |
Central Academy 90.4% poor students 605 students | 7 | 2 | |
Sanilac ISD - District created from ISD 69.1% poor students 317 students | 2 | 0 | |
St. Joseph County ISD - District created from ISD 55.7% poor students 474 students | 2 | 1 | |
Shiawassee Regional ESD - District created from ISD 62.7% poor students 598 students | 2 | 3 | |
Saginaw ISD - District created from ISD 63.7% poor students 837 students | 2 | 0 | |
Chandler Woods Charter Academy 21.8% poor students 779 students | 1 | 2 | |
Haslett Public Schools 26% poor students 2,685 students | 1 | 0 | |
Houghton-Portage Township School District 30.1% poor students 1,409 students | 1 | 1 | |
Hudsonville Public School District 20.4% poor students 6,855 students | 1 | 0 | |
Dexter Community School District 11.3% poor students 3,661 students | 1 | 0 | |
Williamston Community Schools 22.4% poor students 1,879 students | 1 | 0 | |
Bedford Public Schools 19.9% poor students 4,324 students | 1 | 2 | |
Grand Haven Area Public Schools 32% poor students 6,064 students | 1 | 1 | |
Les Cheneaux Community Schools 46.9% poor students 224 students | 1 | 1 | |
Walker Charter Academy 45.2% poor students 739 students | 1 | 1 | |
Grandville Public Schools 21.8% poor students 5,666 students | 1 | 0 | |
Edwardsburg Public Schools 31.5% poor students 2,742 students | 1 | 4 | |
Coopersville Area Public School District 41.4% poor students 2,655 students | 1 | 0 | |
Almont Community Schools 25.5% poor students 1,456 students | 1 | 0 | |
Chesaning Union Schools 52.4% poor students 1,447 students | 1 | 0 | |
St. Johns Public Schools 34.7% poor students 2,799 students | 1 | 1 | |
Romeo Community Schools 24.7% poor students 5,042 students | 1 | 0 | |
Kingsbury Country Day School 9.3% poor students 291 students | 1 | 0 | |
Utica Community Schools 38.1% poor students 26,894 students | 1 | 0 | |
Fairview Area School District 73.8% poor students 298 students | 1 | 1 | |
Charlotte Public Schools 43.2% poor students 2,467 students | 1 | 0 | |
Whitehall District Schools 45.2% poor students 2,078 students | 1 | 0 | |
Nottawa Community School 31.9% poor students 116 students | 1 | 2 | |
Grass Lake Community Schools 28.3% poor students 1,294 students | 1 | 0 | |
North Dickinson County Schools 47.6% poor students 250 students | 1 | 0 | |
East China School District 32.8% poor students 4,102 students | 1 | 0 | |
Chassell Township School District 35.7% poor students 263 students | 1 | 0 | |
Byron Area Schools 37.2% poor students 835 students | 1 | 0 | |
Fraser Public Schools 45.4% poor students 4,978 students | 1 | 0 | |
River Valley School District 56.9% poor students 578 students | 1 | 1 | |
Lake Fenton Community Schools 28.9% poor students 2,078 students | 1 | 0 | |
Hanover-Horton School District 36.7% poor students 1,135 students | 1 | 0 | |
Mona Shores Public School District 48.2% poor students 3,895 students | 1 | 1 | |
Mt. Clemens Montessori Academy 37.4% poor students 326 students | 1 | 0 | |
Clawson Public Schools 38% poor students 1,556 students | 1 | 0 | |
Martin Public Schools 54.3% poor students 613 students | 1 | 2 | |
Paragon Charter Academy 62.1% poor students 678 students | 1 | 6 | |
Ubly Community Schools 45.9% poor students 651 students | 1 | 0 | |
Dansville Schools 31.2% poor students 730 students | 1 | 1 | |
Clinton Community Schools 35% poor students 1,221 students | 1 | 0 | |
Sand Creek Community Schools 44.9% poor students 842 students | 1 | 0 | |
Creative Technologies Academy 37.7% poor students 318 students | 1 | 0 | |
Concord Academy - Petoskey 53.9% poor students 180 students | 1 | 0 | |
Livingston Classical Academy 13.8% poor students 210 students | 1 | 3 | |
Beal City Public Schools 29.4% poor students 684 students | 1 | 0 | |
Clare Public Schools 50.4% poor students 1,614 students | 1 | 2 | |
Mar Lee School District 51.5% poor students 303 students | 1 | 1 | |
Cheboygan Area Schools 61.2% poor students 1,563 students | 1 | 0 | |
Gladwin Community Schools 57.7% poor students 1,680 students | 1 | 1 | |
Brandon School District in the Counties of Oakland and Lapeer 38.3% poor students 2,380 students | 1 | 0 | |
Essexville-Hampton Public Schools 30.3% poor students 1,717 students | 1 | 0 | |
Lake Shore Public Schools (Macomb) 48% poor students 3,493 students | 1 | 0 | |
Riverview Community School District 45.3% poor students 2,873 students | 1 | 0 | |
Perry Public Schools 45.6% poor students 1,092 students | 1 | 0 | |
Fowlerville Community Schools 38.8% poor students 2,802 students | 1 | 0 | |
Manton Consolidated Schools 58.7% poor students 952 students | 1 | 0 | |
Lakeview Sch. District (Calhoun) 54.9% poor students 4,075 students | 1 | 0 | |
Pinconning Area Schools 53.7% poor students 1,267 students | 1 | 1 | |
Big Rapids Public Schools 51.5% poor students 2,061 students | 1 | 0 | |
Centreville Public Schools 46.3% poor students 844 students | 1 | 1 | |
Quincy Community Schools 49.9% poor students 1,215 students | 1 | 0 | |
Norway-Vulcan Area Schools 45.9% poor students 686 students | 1 | 1 | |
Genesee School District 85.4% poor students 669 students | 1 | 1 | |
Constantine Public School District 56.6% poor students 1,449 students | 1 | 5 | |
Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy 54.7% poor students 64 students | 1 | 0 | |
Escanaba Area Public Schools 54.9% poor students 2,329 students | 1 | 0 | |
Branch Line School 43.7% poor students 142 students | 1 | 0 | |
Swartz Creek Community Schools 53.7% poor students 3,636 students | 1 | 2 | |
Chippewa Hills School District 60.3% poor students 1,959 students | 1 | 1 | |
Crestwood School District 76.4% poor students 3,966 students | 1 | 0 | |
New Haven Community Schools 52.1% poor students 1,260 students | 1 | 0 | |
Creative Montessori Academy 59.2% poor students 765 students | 1 | 2 | |
Fremont Public School District 52.9% poor students 2,139 students | 1 | 0 | |
Mason County Eastern Schools 76.7% poor students 437 students | 1 | 3 | |
Akron-Fairgrove Schools 75.2% poor students 314 students | 1 | 2 | |
Webberville Community Schools 54.4% poor students 524 students | 1 | 0 | |
Cross Creek Charter Academy 32.5% poor students 781 students | 1 | 1 | |
Union City Community Schools 56.9% poor students 1,040 students | 1 | 0 | |
South Haven Public Schools 61.3% poor students 1,987 students | 1 | 0 | |
Ferndale Public Schools 60.7% poor students 3,099 students | 1 | 1 | |
Michigan Center School District 50.6% poor students 1,400 students | 1 | 1 | |
Oscoda Area Schools 70% poor students 1,146 students | 1 | 2 | |
Vassar Public Schools 71.2% poor students 1,088 students | 1 | 0 | |
Adrian Public Schools 63.6% poor students 2,837 students | 1 | 0 | |
Rudyard Area Schools 71.5% poor students 614 students | 1 | 0 | |
Vestaburg Community Schools 57.2% poor students 717 students | 1 | 0 | |
Addison Community Schools 55.8% poor students 830 students | 1 | 0 | |
White Pigeon Community Schools 58.4% poor students 755 students | 1 | 1 | |
Northridge Academy 100% poor students 198 students | 1 | 3 | |
Wyoming Public Schools 80.6% poor students 4,152 students | 1 | 1 | |
Hart Public School District 71.7% poor students 1,353 students | 1 | 0 | |
Baraga Area Schools 56% poor students 348 students | 1 | 2 | |
Ishpeming Public School District No. 1 54.9% poor students 760 students | 1 | 0 | |
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District 75.8% poor students 516 students | 1 | 2 | |
Carson City-Crystal Area Schools 57.9% poor students 941 students | 1 | 2 | |
Wakefield-Marenisco School District 55.2% poor students 286 students | 1 | 1 | |
Owosso Public Schools 60.5% poor students 3,114 students | 1 | 1 | |
Port Huron Area School District 55.7% poor students 8,194 students | 1 | 1 | |
Merrill Community Schools 57% poor students 581 students | 1 | 2 | |
Hillsdale Community Schools 58.9% poor students 1,353 students | 1 | 0 | |
Central Montcalm Public Schools 67.3% poor students 1,513 students | 1 | 0 | |
Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools 85.7% poor students 747 students | 1 | 0 | |
White Pine Academy 50.7% poor students 75 students | 1 | 0 | |
Roseville Community Schools 61.7% poor students 4,631 students | 1 | 2 | |
Melvindale-North Allen Park Schools 86.7% poor students 3,135 students | 1 | 1 | |
Burt Township School District 72.7% poor students 33 students | 1 | 0 | |
Evart Public Schools 71.9% poor students 898 students | 1 | 0 | |
Prevail Academy 89.1% poor students 589 students | 1 | 0 | |
Dowagiac Union School District 74.5% poor students 2,188 students | 1 | 0 | |
Dearborn Heights School District #7 76.7% poor students 2,507 students | 1 | 0 | |
Bloomingdale Public School District 81% poor students 1,164 students | 1 | 0 | |
Homer Community School District 54.5% poor students 1,025 students | 1 | 1 | |
Hartford Public Schools 84.5% poor students 1,365 students | 1 | 0 | |
Bellevue Community Schools 62.5% poor students 600 students | 1 | 0 | |
Burr Oak Community School District 73.9% poor students 287 students | 1 | 0 | |
Gateway To Success Academy 82.8% poor students 122 students | 1 | 1 | |
Hesperia Community Schools 72.6% poor students 899 students | 1 | 0 | |
Bentley Community School District 67.9% poor students 836 students | 1 | 0 | |
Renaissance Public School Academy 58.5% poor students 431 students | 1 | 0 | |
Marion Public Schools 66.3% poor students 421 students | 1 | 3 | |
The New Standard Academy 96% poor students 581 students | 1 | 5 | |
Alanson Public Schools 63.9% poor students 219 students | 1 | 3 | |
Watersmeet Township School District 78.4% poor students 134 students | 1 | 0 | |
Pittsford Area Schools 60.5% poor students 453 students | 1 | 0 | |
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools 95.4% poor students 1,840 students | 1 | 2 | |
Global Heights Academy 100% poor students 261 students | 1 | 5 | |
Battle Creek Montessori Academy 72.2% poor students 180 students | 1 | 0 | |
Hamtramck, School District of the City of 94.4% poor students 3,300 students | 1 | 1 | |
Walkerville Public Schools 82.9% poor students 263 students | 1 | 0 | |
Van Dyke Public Schools 88.3% poor students 2,355 students | 1 | 0 | |
Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools 82.7% poor students 1,827 students | 1 | 3 | |
Momentum Academy 89.4% poor students 216 students | 1 | 1 | |
Hazel Park, School District of the City of 66.4% poor students 3,271 students | 1 | 0 | |
Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District 84.2% poor students 1,565 students | 1 | 2 | |
Da Vinci Institute 74.7% poor students 446 students | 1 | 1 | |
Timberland Academy 96.7% poor students 729 students | 1 | 2 | |
Innocademy 30.3% poor students 340 students | 6 | 2 | |
Great Lakes Academy 91.4% poor students 151 students | 1 | 0 | |
Clara B. Ford Academy (SDA) 99.2% poor students 131 students | 1 | 0 | |
Capstone Academy Charter School (SDA) 98.9% poor students 185 students | 1 | 0 | |
Casman Alternative Academy 90.7% poor students 75 students | 1 | 1 | |
Cornerstone Health and Technology School 88.8% poor students 556 students | 1 | 0 | |
Academic and Career Education Academy 78.7% poor students 108 students | 1 | 0 | |
Bay-Arenac Community High School 72.7% poor students 172 students | 1 | 1 | |
Taylor Preparatory High School 64.9% poor students 433 students | 1 | 0 | |
Arts Academy in the Woods 56.5% poor students 352 students | 1 | 2 | |
Henry Ford Academy 54.2% poor students 515 students | 1 | 0 | |
NexTech High School 66.2% poor students 133 students | 1 | 1 | |
NexTech High School of Lansing 46.7% poor students 169 students | 1 | 1 | |
New School High 12.2% poor students 82 students | 1 | 1 | |
Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD - District created from ISD 51.3% poor students 117 students | 1 | 0 | |
C.O.O.R. ISD - District created from ISD 71.4% poor students 318 students | 1 | 0 | |
Manistee ISD - District created from ISD 82.2% poor students 73 students | 1 | 2 | |
Kent ISD - District created from ISD 57.3% poor students 2,918 students | 1 | 0 | |
Cheb-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD - District created from ISD 51.1% poor students 307 students | 1 | 0 | |
Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District - District created from ISD 61.5% poor students 379 students | 1 | 0 | |
Newaygo County RESA - District created from ISD 55.7% poor students 465 students | 1 | 0 | |
Allegan Area Educational Service Agency - District created from ISD 48.6% poor students 426 students | 1 | 0 | |
Branch ISD - District created from ISD 58.3% poor students 551 students | 1 | 2 | |
St. Clair County RESA - District created from ISD 69.5% poor students 600 students | 1 | 0 | |
Berrien RESA - District created from ISD 64.4% poor students 800 students | 1 | 0 | |
Ingham ISD - District created from ISD 60.9% poor students 1,365 students | 1 | 1 | |
Jackson ISD - District created from ISD 64% poor students 1,215 students | 1 | 0 | |
Genesee ISD - District created from ISD 65.9% poor students 3,744 students | 1 | 1 |
Students from two Detroit charter schools told Bridge that they turned to the Internet to teach themselves or had lost interest in some subjects because of the poor quality of their long-term subs.
“(T)here remains an existential teacher shortage dilemma in Michigan and too many long-term substitute teachers are serving in place of trained and effective educators,” state education spokesman Martin Ackley wrote in an email to Bridge.
“We all need to work together to attract and retain educators to the profession and ensure every child in Michigan has access to a quality education.”
Many long-term subs have four-year college degrees, though not education degrees. But state rules allow districts to hire people with as few as 60 college credits, or two years of school.
Data show that enrollment in Michigan’s teacher-prep programs fell 66 percent between 2009 and 2016 and while there are enough students graduating from Michigan’s university-based teaching programs to replace teachers who retire and quit, they are not evenly distributed geographically or by teaching specialty, according to a report by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan.
And a number of certified teachers have simply left the profession, many frustrated by the high stress and declines in pay and benefits.
Molly Sweeney, organizing director for 482Forward, a Detroit-based nonprofit that works to empower student leaders, said most of the applicants for recent jobs at her nonprofit have been teachers early in their careers who wanted to get out because it was “too chaotic.”
The result has been a shrinking teacher talent pool that in many areas, like Detroit, is forcing districts to turn to non-teachers to teach. Facing its own hiring crisis, the Detroit Community Schools boosted pay and offered $3,000 hiring bonuses to gain certified teachers.
But many of those new hires came from Detroit-area charter schools, where pay is typically lower, forcing many of those schools to turn to long-term subs: Although charters educate roughly 10 percent of state students, over half of all long-term subs worked in charter schools.
The Michigan Association of Public School Academies has been well aware of the growing problem with hiring and retaining teachers for a number of years, said Angi Beland, a former MAPSA employee who is program director of its alternative-certification program.
Through the program, would-be teachers who already have a college degree take 13 months of education-related classes. The program, like others around the state and approved by the Michigan Department of Education, targets those already working in charters, like classroom aides, who would want to become teachers.
MAPSA’s “professional innovators and teachers” program currently has 45 people enrolled – charter schools typically cover the cost – and Beland expects 30 more applications.
More stories on long-term substitutes
- Michigan leans on long-term substitutes as its schools struggle
- How a wedding planner became an uncertified Michigan teacher for $15 an hour
- An Up North charter is 44 percent subs. You can’t tell difference, supt. says.
- To cut long-term substitutes, Detroit raised teacher pay, offered bonuses
- Expert: Michigan’s reliance on long-term subs ‘should concern all of us’
That’s not enough to solve the problem statewide, but it is helping. “The ideal would be we would have all certified teachers,” she said. “It’s how do we make the best of a bad situation.”
Some traditional public schools also turn to long-term subs: Detroit schools, which made hiring certified teachers a priority, has pulled permits for 117 full-year long-term subs so far in the 2019-20 school year, up from 92 for all of 2018-19.
Overall the district has over 3,500 teachers and is the largest district in Michigan.
In West Michigan, the troubled Benton Harbor schools are facing budget and academic woes that caused Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to consider shutting down the high school there.
Last year the district hired 41 long-term subs, equal to over 40 percent of its staff. So far this year, the district has asked for 19 permits – and still has seven teaching openings.
The long-term solution, Sweeney, Vidmar and others said, requires more support for the teaching profession to encourage more people to go into the profession. Over the years, teachers have seen salaries stagnate and pension and health-care benefits trimmed as Michigan struggled with the fallout of the Great Recession as incomes – and taxes – fell precipitously.
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