Michigan Has More Teachers, Fewer Students

Michigan Has More Teachers, Fewer Students

• Numbers do not support claims of an educator shortage  By Tom Gantert

"A Kentwood Public Schools student who is in a program for prospective teachers is featured in a May 25 story from the nonprofit news site Chalkbeat Detroit. 

Though the story focuses on claims of a teacher shortage in Michigan, the Kentwood district has increased its number of teaching positions by more than a third over eight years, while barely enrolling more students.

Chalkbeat Detroit is not the only news agency positing an educator shortage in Michigan, but it has reported energetically and consistently on the issue.

• ...Kentwood Public Schools has seen its teaching staff increase from 499.72 full-time-equivalents during 2013-14 school year to 672.01 FTEs in 2021-22... 
• FTEs to match a 5% growth in enrollment over that eight-year period.

Kentwood is unusual in seeing student enrollment grow at all. 

Statewide, Michigan public schools continue to lose students while putting more teachers on the payroll..."