A Research Report from EPIC

Michigan Teacher Shortage Study: 2026 Report

January 2026

This is the fifth in a series of annual reports about teacher shortages in Michigan that the state legislature requested in December 2020 (2020 PA 316). Informed by our previous reports and newly available data from the 2024-25 school year, this report provides an updated view of teacher shortages throughout Michigan. It highlights that despite several years of significant state investments in the educator pipeline, teacher shortages persist throughout Michigan in varying ways and to varying extents. Some communities face challenges recruiting new teachers in specific subject areas or grade levels, while others experience persistent turnover or rely on under-credentialed teachers to fill vacant positions. Recent changes in Michigan’s requirements for reporting school personnel data highlight an ongoing tension between the pressing need for robust state data to inform policy and local districts’ already-strained administrative capacity.

Key findings include:

• Michigan’s supply of newly-certified teachers is growing at record-high rates but still barely keeping pace with teacher exits.
• Michigan’s growing special education population intensifies shortages in an already high-demand field.
• Teacher shortages disproportionately affect Michigan’s urban and rural areas, charter schools, high-poverty communities, and students of color.
• Gaps between clinical training and hiring needs may exacerbate shortages in high-need districts and specialization areas.