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Who’s leading classes? Uncertified teachers for thousands of Michigan kids

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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.

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 enrollmentLong-term subs
2018-192019-20
Dearborn City School District
75.8% poor students
20,740 students
10457
Detroit Public Schools Community District
85.9% poor students
50,176 students
92117
Michigan Educational Choice Center
100% poor students
263 students
100
Timbuktu Academy
100% poor students
436 students
110
Benton Harbor Area Schools
82.9% poor students
1,941 students
4119
Pathways Academy
98.6% poor students
148 students
50
Berkley School District
18.1% poor students
4,377 students
387
Lansing Public School District
71.5% poor students
10,652 students
3516
Brighton Area Schools
13.9% poor students
5,998 students
3313
Grand Rapids Public Schools
73.7% poor students
16,006 students
3124
Universal Academy
98.4% poor students
728 students
3016
Vista Meadows Academy
100% poor students
100 students
70
Detroit Service Learning Academy
99.5% poor students
1,350 students
470
Eagle's Nest Academy
92.5% poor students
187 students
61
Benton Harbor Charter School Academy
89.4% poor students
520 students
161
Clarkston Community School District
21.3% poor students
7,334 students
303
South Redford School District
67.2% poor students
3,238 students
2518
Battle Creek Public Schools
83.7% poor students
3,911 students
220
Joy Preparatory Academy
99.7% poor students
356 students
162
Chandler Park Academy
92.4% poor students
2,199 students
202
Eaton Academy
78.6% poor students
346 students
133
Flint, School District of the City of
90.4% poor students
4,245 students
221
Niles Community Schools
57.9% poor students
3,654 students
1910
The James and Grace Lee Boggs School
75.2% poor students
137 students
40
University Preparatory Academy (PSAD)
82.8% poor students
1,940 students
198
Detroit Public Safety Academy
95.1% poor students
286 students
123
Midland Academy of Advanced and Creative Studies
31.2% poor students
154 students
80
Saginaw, School District of the City of
80.5% poor students
5,452 students
1910
George Crockett Academy
100% poor students
411 students
132
Ojibwe Charter School
82% poor students
100 students
71
Detroit Leadership Academy
96.6% poor students
796 students
190
Inkster Preparatory Academy
89.4% poor students
180 students
40
Public Schools of Calumet, Laurium & Keweenaw
54% poor students
1,519 students
160
Saginaw Learn to Earn Academy
98.6% poor students
140 students
40
Voyageur Academy
95.7% poor students
1,149 students
294
Academy for Business and Technology
88.8% poor students
519 students
188
Highland Park Public School Academy System
93.8% poor students
372 students
131
Three Lakes Academy
72.4% poor students
116 students
61
Universal Learning Academy
82.6% poor students
615 students
197
Mildred C. Wells Preparatory Academy
100% poor students
195 students
61
Charlton Heston Academy
78.5% poor students
685 students
207
Eastpointe Community Schools
79% poor students
2,691 students
156
Macomb Montessori Academy
86.6% poor students
201 students
62
GEE Edmonson Academy
100% poor students
232 students
50
Muskegon, Public Schools of the City of
87.6% poor students
3,589 students
120
Garden City Public Schools
60.7% poor students
3,701 students
110
American International Academy
90.4% poor students
709 students
60
Riverside Academy
99% poor students
999 students
254
Bridge Academy
99.5% poor students
773 students
1611
Detroit Community Schools
99.9% poor students
672 students
131
Carrollton Public Schools
78.6% poor students
1,835 students
113
Taylor School District
62.3% poor students
6,217 students
114
River Rouge, School District of the City of
79.4% poor students
2,279 students
112
Waldron Area Schools
66.4% poor students
211 students
85
North Saginaw Charter Academy
96.9% poor students
512 students
132
Kalamazoo RESA - District created from ISD
52.3% poor students
2,084 students
118
International Academy of Saginaw
74.7% poor students
194 students
54
Detroit Edison Public School Academy
66.5% poor students
1,287 students
108
Grand River Academy
57.6% poor students
788 students
103
University Preparatory Science and Math (PSAD)
69.2% poor students
1,479 students
1014
South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy
51.8% poor students
757 students
93
Lansing Charter Academy
89.9% poor students
546 students
91
Will Carleton Charter School Academy
26.7% poor students
251 students
64
Star International Academy
93.5% poor students
1,562 students
2916
Hartland Consolidated Schools
16.9% poor students
5,482 students
80
Chippewa Valley Schools
29.8% poor students
16,061 students
84
Traverse City Area Public Schools
36% poor students
9,433 students
87
Keystone Academy
37.4% poor students
779 students
81
West Branch-Rose City Area Schools
60.5% poor students
2,043 students
80
Kalamazoo Public Schools
71.2% poor students
12,777 students
811
Rochester Community School District
11.4% poor students
15,451 students
76
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
26.1% poor students
13,642 students
70
Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies (PSAD)
82.3% poor students
1,286 students
89
Waterford Montessori Academy
31.1% poor students
309 students
60
Conner Creek Academy East
92.8% poor students
932 students
83
L'Anse Creuse Public Schools
41.9% poor students
10,392 students
71
Harper Woods, The School District of the City of
76.1% poor students
2,349 students
73
Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy
63% poor students
579 students
75
Redford Union Schools, District No. 1
76.3% poor students
2,392 students
70
ACE Academy (SDA)
100% poor students
186 students
20
Avondale School District
45.1% poor students
3,779 students
60
Windemere Park Charter Academy
74.9% poor students
637 students
74
Tipton Academy
69.9% poor students
508 students
70
Oakland International Academy
99.2% poor students
852 students
70
Landmark Academy
67.7% poor students
775 students
72
Francis Reh PSA
97.8% poor students
455 students
93
David Ellis Academy West
69.2% poor students
743 students
70
Quest Charter Academy
75.4% poor students
769 students
74
Oak Park, School District of the City of
81.4% poor students
4,368 students
60
Onekama Consolidated Schools
53.5% poor students
415 students
60
Sarah J. Webber Media Arts Academy
88.6% poor students
219 students
22
Academy of Warren
95.7% poor students
678 students
72
Lighthouse Academy
95.2% poor students
353 students
70
West Michigan Aviation Academy
26.5% poor students
611 students
73
Hope of Detroit Academy
95.8% poor students
957 students
199
Triumph Academy
54.9% poor students
728 students
61
Big Bay De Noc School District
69.1% poor students
165 students
50
Fortis Academy
79.1% poor students
745 students
65
East Arbor Charter Academy
53.2% poor students
694 students
64
Laurus Academy
73.4% poor students
744 students
61
The Dearborn Academy
99.4% poor students
509 students
133
Metro Charter Academy
74.8% poor students
726 students
63
Great Oaks Academy
93.2% poor students
734 students
61
Detroit Enterprise Academy
96.1% poor students
738 students
62
Hillsdale Preparatory School
50% poor students
132 students
32
The Woodley Leadership Academy
90.7% poor students
182 students
30
LifeTech Academy
51.6% poor students
161 students
22
International Academy of Flint
84.3% poor students
917 students
154
Paramount Charter Academy
92.7% poor students
451 students
64
Trillium Academy
71.2% poor students
594 students
63
George Washington Carver Academy
99.6% poor students
537 students
90
Flat River Academy
78.8% poor students
146 students
51
Dove Academy of Detroit
88.1% poor students
469 students
60
West Village Academy
70.8% poor students
353 students
61
Countryside Academy
88% poor students
756 students
61
Bessemer Area School District
59.1% poor students
408 students
51
Flagship Charter Academy
98.1% poor students
698 students
136
GEE White Academy
99.7% poor students
374 students
70
Bradford Academy
83.2% poor students
1,416 students
64
Linden Charter Academy
98.1% poor students
791 students
130
Crescent Academy
88.9% poor students
962 students
159
Legacy Charter Academy
97.9% poor students
747 students
148
Grand Traverse Academy
25.8% poor students
896 students
51
Weston Preparatory Academy
90.6% poor students
297 students
40
Three Oaks Public School Academy
100% poor students
350 students
60
Menominee Area Public Schools
53.9% poor students
1,307 students
59
Parchment School District
54.1% poor students
1,603 students
52
St. Ignace Area Schools
53.2% poor students
511 students
50
Tahquamenon Area Schools
59.9% poor students
599 students
51
Ironwood Area Schools of Gogebic County
56.9% poor students
765 students
51
Northwest Community Schools
62.3% poor students
3,558 students
51
Southgate Community School District
51.7% poor students
3,526 students
52
Jackson Public Schools
71% poor students
4,770 students
50
Warrendale Charter Academy
98.3% poor students
753 students
53
Mid Peninsula School District
65.5% poor students
174 students
44
Ann Arbor Public Schools
25% poor students
18,055 students
40
Old Redford Academy
75.9% poor students
1,784 students
2612
Advanced Technology Academy
92.7% poor students
1,296 students
54
Detroit Premier Academy
95.7% poor students
770 students
126
Martin Luther King, Jr. Education Center Academy
85.6% poor students
397 students
55
Cesar Chavez Academy
97.5% poor students
2,291 students
376
Copper Country ISD - District created from ISD
74.2% poor students
248 students
51
Detroit Innovation Academy
97.2% poor students
393 students
41
Bay City Academy
76.2% poor students
365 students
60
Grand Ledge Public Schools
28% poor students
5,328 students
41
Midland Public Schools
33.2% poor students
7,642 students
41
Hancock Public Schools
47.6% poor students
701 students
43
Boyne City Public Schools
49.4% poor students
1,349 students
40
Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools
55.7% poor students
2,023 students
41
Frontier International Academy
98.9% poor students
640 students
86
Grand Blanc Community Schools
34.3% poor students
8,260 students
42
Greenville Public Schools
56.7% poor students
3,729 students
41
North Branch Area Schools
47.4% poor students
2,353 students
40
Alcona Community Schools
67.6% poor students
686 students
45
Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac
76.6% poor students
843 students
55
Taylor Exemplar Academy
71% poor students
792 students
42
Warren Consolidated Schools
64.7% poor students
13,767 students
42
Distinctive College Prep.
89.7% poor students
465 students
46
Benzie County Central Schools
59.5% poor students
1,414 students
40
Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area K-12 School
51.9% poor students
337 students
40
Harper Creek Community Schools
41% poor students
2,828 students
40
Holton Public Schools
70.6% poor students
837 students
40
Canton Charter Academy
18.8% poor students
749 students
42
Jonesville Community Schools
52.6% poor students
1,446 students
41
Flextech High School Shepherd
60% poor students
35 students
11
Monroe Public Schools
60.7% poor students
5,232 students
43
Romulus Community Schools
75.7% poor students
2,577 students
40
Michigan International Prep School
67% poor students
449 students
20
Ypsilanti Community Schools
65.3% poor students
3,840 students
45
Charyl Stockwell Academy
16.2% poor students
1,118 students
43
Beecher Community School District
93% poor students
755 students
40
Summit Academy North
66.3% poor students
1,842 students
40
Hope Academy
87.6% poor students
534 students
42
Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy
99.8% poor students
817 students
135
Birmingham Public Schools
8.8% poor students
8,072 students
30
Burton Glen Charter Academy
97.2% poor students
599 students
40
Jalen Rose Leadership Academy
90.3% poor students
413 students
42
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System
93.5% poor students
644 students
316
Multicultural Academy
92.4% poor students
171 students
31
Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy
12.5% poor students
769 students
30
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
20.5% poor students
17,491 students
32
Hamilton Community Schools
27.1% poor students
2,729 students
31
Mattawan Consolidated School
18% poor students
3,756 students
30
Grosse Pointe Public Schools
18.8% poor students
7,652 students
31
Oxford Community Schools
24.7% poor students
5,589 students
31
Whiteford Agricultural School District of the Counties of Lenawee and Monroe
28.5% poor students
752 students
30
Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb)
42.4% poor students
4,375 students
30
Davison Community Schools
44.3% poor students
5,723 students
31
Howell Public Schools
27.4% poor students
6,973 students
32
Gull Lake Community Schools
23.8% poor students
3,231 students
30
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Schools
51% poor students
914 students
32
Croswell-Lexington Community Schools
52.4% poor students
2,148 students
30
Stockbridge Community Schools
40.8% poor students
1,249 students
30
Hemlock Public School District
32.3% poor students
1,213 students
32
Iron Mountain Public Schools
48.9% poor students
883 students
31
Posen Consolidated School District No. 9
59.6% poor students
213 students
32
Ontonagon Area School District
52% poor students
275 students
33
Britton Deerfield Schools
51.4% poor students
533 students
30
Mancelona Public Schools
71.3% poor students
936 students
33
Eaton Rapids Public Schools
55.3% poor students
2,296 students
32
Lamphere Public Schools
50.6% poor students
2,484 students
32
Montague Area Public Schools
49.7% poor students
1,514 students
30
Bay City School District
52.5% poor students
7,504 students
31
Onaway Area Community School District
56.8% poor students
604 students
30
Alpena Public Schools
58% poor students
3,753 students
31
Warren Woods Public Schools
58.3% poor students
3,244 students
30
Breckenridge Community Schools
54.6% poor students
668 students
30
Oakridge Public Schools
63.6% poor students
2,042 students
31
Grant Public School District
57.2% poor students
1,799 students
33
Pellston Public Schools
69.9% poor students
495 students
34
Cassopolis Public Schools
60.7% poor students
957 students
30
Vista Charter Academy
93.7% poor students
702 students
30
Hanley International Academy
94.6% poor students
647 students
31
Huron Academy
61% poor students
620 students
30
Reach Charter Academy
91.3% poor students
652 students
32
Kalkaska Public Schools
65.1% poor students
1,472 students
32
Coloma Community Schools
73.9% poor students
1,341 students
30
South Lake Schools
66.8% poor students
1,619 students
30
Carney-Nadeau Public Schools
64.1% poor students
287 students
33
Madison Academy
86% poor students
414 students
33
Shelby Public Schools
71.7% poor students
1,265 students
34
Pembroke Academy
93% poor students
244 students
32
Caniff Liberty Academy
99% poor students
481 students
30
Hillman Community Schools
67.4% poor students
411 students
30
Clintondale Community Schools
79.5% poor students
2,725 students
31
Endeavor Charter Academy
84.2% poor students
679 students
31
Westwood Heights Schools
92.2% poor students
1,510 students
30
Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence
82.2% poor students
835 students
32
Escuela Avancemos
98.3% poor students
301 students
30
Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy
88.2% poor students
186 students
30
State Street Academy
82.5% poor students
120 students
20
Greater Heights Academy
97.3% poor students
262 students
51
Ecorse Public Schools
81.7% poor students
1,055 students
35
MacDowell Preparatory Academy
98.6% poor students
366 students
32
Pontiac Academy for Excellence
75.3% poor students
774 students
30
Powell Township Schools
62.9% poor students
35 students
20
Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy
98.7% poor students
238 students
30
Detroit Merit Charter Academy
92.3% poor students
737 students
123
Oakside Scholars Charter Academy
92.8% poor students
739 students
117
Covenant House Academy Detroit
96.2% poor students
501 students
35
Lewis Cass ISD - District created from ISD
64.4% poor students
284 students
31
Midland County Educational Service Agency - District created from ISD
66.4% poor students
1,775 students
32
Montcalm Area ISD - District created from ISD
51.8% poor students
525 students
30
Lenawee ISD - District created from ISD
57.7% poor students
596 students
30
Ottawa Area ISD - District created from ISD
50.1% poor students
1,426 students
33
Calhoun Intermediate School District - District created from ISD
60.3% poor students
1,208 students
30
Lakeside Charter School - Kalamazoo
99.6% poor students
244 students
41
Achieve Charter Academy
14.3% poor students
763 students
23
Forest Hills Public Schools
11.8% poor students
9,774 students
20
St. Joseph Public Schools
31% poor students
3,003 students
22
South Canton Scholars Charter Academy
27.2% poor students
780 students
23
Lakeshore School District (Berrien)
30.7% poor students
2,785 students
22
Merritt Academy
50.4% poor students
552 students
23
Jenison Public Schools
30.9% poor students
5,094 students
20
Grand Blanc Academy
88% poor students
384 students
63
Zeeland Public Schools
26.2% poor students
6,241 students
20
Linden Community Schools
27.1% poor students
2,713 students
21
East Lansing School District
33.9% poor students
3,607 students
21
New Lothrop Area Public Schools
24.7% poor students
916 students
21
Crawford AuSable Schools
56.9% poor students
1,571 students
22
Plainwell Community Schools
29% poor students
2,780 students
22
Livonia Public Schools School District
33.8% poor students
14,184 students
21
Huron Valley Schools
27.3% poor students
8,987 students
20
Royal Oak Schools
23.6% poor students
4,995 students
21
Farmington Public School District
26.2% poor students
9,539 students
21
West Bloomfield School District
34.6% poor students
5,476 students
20
Hamtramck Academy
98.3% poor students
537 students
21
Charlevoix Public Schools
43.9% poor students
872 students
21
Breitung Township School District
43.1% poor students
1,893 students
20
Gobles Public School District
58.3% poor students
772 students
20
Concord Academy - Boyne
44.3% poor students
158 students
21
West Ottawa Public School District
55% poor students
6,712 students
20
Crossroads Charter Academy
57.1% poor students
595 students
20
Laingsburg Community Schools
27.4% poor students
1,125 students
20
Saginaw Township Community Schools
47.9% poor students
4,803 students
20
Manistique Area Schools
56.5% poor students
816 students
20
Reeths-Puffer Schools
45.7% poor students
3,710 students
20
Knapp Charter Academy
68.9% poor students
745 students
21
Kentwood Public Schools
72.7% poor students
9,284 students
20
Three Rivers Community Schools
56.4% poor students
2,564 students
20
Four Corners Montessori Academy
35.4% poor students
441 students
20
Clio Area School District
53.5% poor students
2,918 students
20
Michigan Connections Academy
57.3% poor students
1,722 students
21
Holland City School District
64.5% poor students
3,364 students
20
Pinckney Community Schools
20% poor students
2,602 students
21
Buckley Community Schools
49.1% poor students
409 students
22
Shepherd Public Schools
47.2% poor students
1,811 students
20
Kingston Community School District
56.6% poor students
595 students
20
Ellsworth Community School
54.3% poor students
256 students
21
Lawrence Public Schools
64.6% poor students
570 students
23
South Arbor Charter Academy
22.5% poor students
796 students
21
Wyandotte, School District of the City of
57.9% poor students
4,792 students
20
Corunna Public Schools
53.8% poor students
1,811 students
21
Camden-Frontier School
58.7% poor students
504 students
23
Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated School District
55.5% poor students
191 students
22
L'Anse Area Schools
63.1% poor students
605 students
23
Reese Public Schools
51.1% poor students
805 students
20
Brimley Area Schools
59.1% poor students
536 students
20
Farwell Area Schools
61.2% poor students
1,158 students
20
Morenci Area Schools
62.5% poor students
650 students
22
Suttons Bay Public Schools
57.2% poor students
612 students
20
North Star Academy
58.4% poor students
267 students
26
Colon Community School District
54.7% poor students
550 students
22
Houghton Lake Community Schools
76.8% poor students
1,249 students
21
Engadine Consolidated Schools
69.9% poor students
359 students
20
Mendon Community School District
52.5% poor students
510 students
22
Mio-AuSable Schools
73.4% poor students
533 students
22
Harrison Community Schools
78.1% poor students
1,418 students
21
Peck Community School District
60.5% poor students
349 students
20
Northport Public School District
65.2% poor students
141 students
22
Marshall Academy
57.7% poor students
272 students
20
Noor International Academy
66.2% poor students
154 students
23
Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools
81.7% poor students
4,708 students
20
Lake City Area School District
65.7% poor students
1,166 students
21
AGBU Alex-Marie Manoogian School
55.4% poor students
399 students
21
Island City Academy
27.9% poor students
204 students
20
American Montessori Academy
65.4% poor students
486 students
24
Van Buren Public Schools
57.6% poor students
4,603 students
20
Baldwin Community Schools
95.3% poor students
515 students
21
Fitzgerald Public Schools
69% poor students
2,546 students
21
Walton Charter Academy
93.6% poor students
815 students
20
Ashley Community Schools
71.4% poor students
259 students
20
Walden Green Montessori
38.8% poor students
245 students
20
River City Scholars Charter Academy
92.9% poor students
477 students
20
Lincoln Park, School District of the City of
72.7% poor students
4,804 students
20
Bangor Public Schools (Van Buren)
76.1% poor students
1,118 students
20
Southwest Detroit Community School
93.8% poor students
386 students
20
Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy
98.1% poor students
749 students
124
East Jackson Community Schools
64.7% poor students
940 students
23
Old Mission Peninsula School
19.4% poor students
134 students
30
Woodland Park Academy
80.6% poor students
386 students
22
David Ellis Academy
92.8% poor students
304 students
26
Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts
93.5% poor students
520 students
20
Saginaw Preparatory Academy
97.1% poor students
308 students
23
Pansophia Academy
81.6% poor students
419 students
21
Plymouth Educational Center Charter School
84.2% poor students
507 students
21
New Paradigm Glazer-Loving Academy
99.4% poor students
341 students
30
Charlevoix Montessori Academy for the Arts
76.2% poor students
42 students
23
Hope Academy of West Michigan
92.5% poor students
371 students
21
Insight School of Michigan
74% poor students
769 students
20
Central Academy
90.4% poor students
605 students
72
Sanilac ISD - District created from ISD
69.1% poor students
317 students
20
St. Joseph County ISD - District created from ISD
55.7% poor students
474 students
21
Shiawassee Regional ESD - District created from ISD
62.7% poor students
598 students
23
Saginaw ISD - District created from ISD
63.7% poor students
837 students
20
Chandler Woods Charter Academy
21.8% poor students
779 students
12
Haslett Public Schools
26% poor students
2,685 students
10
Houghton-Portage Township School District
30.1% poor students
1,409 students
11
Hudsonville Public School District
20.4% poor students
6,855 students
10
Dexter Community School District
11.3% poor students
3,661 students
10
Williamston Community Schools
22.4% poor students
1,879 students
10
Bedford Public Schools
19.9% poor students
4,324 students
12
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
32% poor students
6,064 students
11
Les Cheneaux Community Schools
46.9% poor students
224 students
11
Walker Charter Academy
45.2% poor students
739 students
11
Grandville Public Schools
21.8% poor students
5,666 students
10
Edwardsburg Public Schools
31.5% poor students
2,742 students
14
Coopersville Area Public School District
41.4% poor students
2,655 students
10
Almont Community Schools
25.5% poor students
1,456 students
10
Chesaning Union Schools
52.4% poor students
1,447 students
10
St. Johns Public Schools
34.7% poor students
2,799 students
11
Romeo Community Schools
24.7% poor students
5,042 students
10
Kingsbury Country Day School
9.3% poor students
291 students
10
Utica Community Schools
38.1% poor students
26,894 students
10
Fairview Area School District
73.8% poor students
298 students
11
Charlotte Public Schools
43.2% poor students
2,467 students
10
Whitehall District Schools
45.2% poor students
2,078 students
10
Nottawa Community School
31.9% poor students
116 students
12
Grass Lake Community Schools
28.3% poor students
1,294 students
10
North Dickinson County Schools
47.6% poor students
250 students
10
East China School District
32.8% poor students
4,102 students
10
Chassell Township School District
35.7% poor students
263 students
10
Byron Area Schools
37.2% poor students
835 students
10
Fraser Public Schools
45.4% poor students
4,978 students
10
River Valley School District
56.9% poor students
578 students
11
Lake Fenton Community Schools
28.9% poor students
2,078 students
10
Hanover-Horton School District
36.7% poor students
1,135 students
10
Mona Shores Public School District
48.2% poor students
3,895 students
11
Mt. Clemens Montessori Academy
37.4% poor students
326 students
10
Clawson Public Schools
38% poor students
1,556 students
10
Martin Public Schools
54.3% poor students
613 students
12
Paragon Charter Academy
62.1% poor students
678 students
16
Ubly Community Schools
45.9% poor students
651 students
10
Dansville Schools
31.2% poor students
730 students
11
Clinton Community Schools
35% poor students
1,221 students
10
Sand Creek Community Schools
44.9% poor students
842 students
10
Creative Technologies Academy
37.7% poor students
318 students
10
Concord Academy - Petoskey
53.9% poor students
180 students
10
Livingston Classical Academy
13.8% poor students
210 students
13
Beal City Public Schools
29.4% poor students
684 students
10
Clare Public Schools
50.4% poor students
1,614 students
12
Mar Lee School District
51.5% poor students
303 students
11
Cheboygan Area Schools
61.2% poor students
1,563 students
10
Gladwin Community Schools
57.7% poor students
1,680 students
11
Brandon School District in the Counties of Oakland and Lapeer
38.3% poor students
2,380 students
10
Essexville-Hampton Public Schools
30.3% poor students
1,717 students
10
Lake Shore Public Schools (Macomb)
48% poor students
3,493 students
10
Riverview Community School District
45.3% poor students
2,873 students
10
Perry Public Schools
45.6% poor students
1,092 students
10
Fowlerville Community Schools
38.8% poor students
2,802 students
10
Manton Consolidated Schools
58.7% poor students
952 students
10
Lakeview Sch. District (Calhoun)
54.9% poor students
4,075 students
10
Pinconning Area Schools
53.7% poor students
1,267 students
11
Big Rapids Public Schools
51.5% poor students
2,061 students
10
Centreville Public Schools
46.3% poor students
844 students
11
Quincy Community Schools
49.9% poor students
1,215 students
10
Norway-Vulcan Area Schools
45.9% poor students
686 students
11
Genesee School District
85.4% poor students
669 students
11
Constantine Public School District
56.6% poor students
1,449 students
15
Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy
54.7% poor students
64 students
10
Escanaba Area Public Schools
54.9% poor students
2,329 students
10
Branch Line School
43.7% poor students
142 students
10
Swartz Creek Community Schools
53.7% poor students
3,636 students
12
Chippewa Hills School District
60.3% poor students
1,959 students
11
Crestwood School District
76.4% poor students
3,966 students
10
New Haven Community Schools
52.1% poor students
1,260 students
10
Creative Montessori Academy
59.2% poor students
765 students
12
Fremont Public School District
52.9% poor students
2,139 students
10
Mason County Eastern Schools
76.7% poor students
437 students
13
Akron-Fairgrove Schools
75.2% poor students
314 students
12
Webberville Community Schools
54.4% poor students
524 students
10
Cross Creek Charter Academy
32.5% poor students
781 students
11
Union City Community Schools
56.9% poor students
1,040 students
10
South Haven Public Schools
61.3% poor students
1,987 students
10
Ferndale Public Schools
60.7% poor students
3,099 students
11
Michigan Center School District
50.6% poor students
1,400 students
11
Oscoda Area Schools
70% poor students
1,146 students
12
Vassar Public Schools
71.2% poor students
1,088 students
10
Adrian Public Schools
63.6% poor students
2,837 students
10
Rudyard Area Schools
71.5% poor students
614 students
10
Vestaburg Community Schools
57.2% poor students
717 students
10
Addison Community Schools
55.8% poor students
830 students
10
White Pigeon Community Schools
58.4% poor students
755 students
11
Northridge Academy
100% poor students
198 students
13
Wyoming Public Schools
80.6% poor students
4,152 students
11
Hart Public School District
71.7% poor students
1,353 students
10
Baraga Area Schools
56% poor students
348 students
12
Ishpeming Public School District No. 1
54.9% poor students
760 students
10
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District
75.8% poor students
516 students
12
Carson City-Crystal Area Schools
57.9% poor students
941 students
12
Wakefield-Marenisco School District
55.2% poor students
286 students
11
Owosso Public Schools
60.5% poor students
3,114 students
11
Port Huron Area School District
55.7% poor students
8,194 students
11
Merrill Community Schools
57% poor students
581 students
12
Hillsdale Community Schools
58.9% poor students
1,353 students
10
Central Montcalm Public Schools
67.3% poor students
1,513 students
10
Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools
85.7% poor students
747 students
10
White Pine Academy
50.7% poor students
75 students
10
Roseville Community Schools
61.7% poor students
4,631 students
12
Melvindale-North Allen Park Schools
86.7% poor students
3,135 students
11
Burt Township School District
72.7% poor students
33 students
10
Evart Public Schools
71.9% poor students
898 students
10
Prevail Academy
89.1% poor students
589 students
10
Dowagiac Union School District
74.5% poor students
2,188 students
10
Dearborn Heights School District #7
76.7% poor students
2,507 students
10
Bloomingdale Public School District
81% poor students
1,164 students
10
Homer Community School District
54.5% poor students
1,025 students
11
Hartford Public Schools
84.5% poor students
1,365 students
10
Bellevue Community Schools
62.5% poor students
600 students
10
Burr Oak Community School District
73.9% poor students
287 students
10
Gateway To Success Academy
82.8% poor students
122 students
11
Hesperia Community Schools
72.6% poor students
899 students
10
Bentley Community School District
67.9% poor students
836 students
10
Renaissance Public School Academy
58.5% poor students
431 students
10
Marion Public Schools
66.3% poor students
421 students
13
The New Standard Academy
96% poor students
581 students
15
Alanson Public Schools
63.9% poor students
219 students
13
Watersmeet Township School District
78.4% poor students
134 students
10
Pittsford Area Schools
60.5% poor students
453 students
10
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools
95.4% poor students
1,840 students
12
Global Heights Academy
100% poor students
261 students
15
Battle Creek Montessori Academy
72.2% poor students
180 students
10
Hamtramck, School District of the City of
94.4% poor students
3,300 students
11
Walkerville Public Schools
82.9% poor students
263 students
10
Van Dyke Public Schools
88.3% poor students
2,355 students
10
Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools
82.7% poor students
1,827 students
13
Momentum Academy
89.4% poor students
216 students
11
Hazel Park, School District of the City of
66.4% poor students
3,271 students
10
Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District
84.2% poor students
1,565 students
12
Da Vinci Institute
74.7% poor students
446 students
11
Timberland Academy
96.7% poor students
729 students
12
Innocademy
30.3% poor students
340 students
62
Great Lakes Academy
91.4% poor students
151 students
10
Clara B. Ford Academy (SDA)
99.2% poor students
131 students
10
Capstone Academy Charter School (SDA)
98.9% poor students
185 students
10
Casman Alternative Academy
90.7% poor students
75 students
11
Cornerstone Health and Technology School
88.8% poor students
556 students
10
Academic and Career Education Academy
78.7% poor students
108 students
10
Bay-Arenac Community High School
72.7% poor students
172 students
11
Taylor Preparatory High School
64.9% poor students
433 students
10
Arts Academy in the Woods
56.5% poor students
352 students
12
Henry Ford Academy
54.2% poor students
515 students
10
NexTech High School
66.2% poor students
133 students
11
NexTech High School of Lansing
46.7% poor students
169 students
11
New School High
12.2% poor students
82 students
11
Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD - District created from ISD
51.3% poor students
117 students
10
C.O.O.R. ISD - District created from ISD
71.4% poor students
318 students
10
Manistee ISD - District created from ISD
82.2% poor students
73 students
12
Kent ISD - District created from ISD
57.3% poor students
2,918 students
10
Cheb-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD - District created from ISD
51.1% poor students
307 students
10
Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District - District created from ISD
61.5% poor students
379 students
10
Newaygo County RESA - District created from ISD
55.7% poor students
465 students
10
Allegan Area Educational Service Agency - District created from ISD
48.6% poor students
426 students
10
Branch ISD - District created from ISD
58.3% poor students
551 students
12
St. Clair County RESA - District created from ISD
69.5% poor students
600 students
10
Berrien RESA - District created from ISD
64.4% poor students
800 students
10
Ingham ISD - District created from ISD
60.9% poor students
1,365 students
11
Jackson ISD - District created from ISD
64% poor students
1,215 students
10
Genesee ISD - District created from ISD
65.9% poor students
3,744 students
11

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.

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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