MARQUETTE — The Michigan State Legislature has taken a step in tackling the teacher shortage impacting schools throughout the state by approving $66.4 million in funding for the Talent Together initiative as part of Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2024 School Aid Budget.

The Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency called it an “an innovative partnership” between a consortium of 48 intermediate school districts spanning 63 counties — from the Upper Peninsula to southeast Michigan — that serves more than 1.1 million students by seeking to widen pathways for aspiring teachers of all education levels.

The Talent Together initiative, launched in December, already has attracted 1,500 applicants, MARESA said in a news release, with the goal of creating a “robust” ecosystem that attracts and supports aspiring educators, providing them with the necessary resources, mentorship and professional development opportunities.

“The remarkable response to the Talent Together initiative, with over 1,500 applicants in such a short time, reflects the enthusiasm and interest in shaping Michigan’s educational landscape for the better,” said Greg Nyen, superintendent of Marquette-Alger RESA, in a statement. “This groundswell of support, combined with the funding from the Michigan State Legislature, signifies a united effort to address the teacher shortage and invest in Michigan’s future.”

By addressing the barriers that discourage individuals from pursuing a career in education, the initiative seeks to cultivate a diverse and talented pool of teachers who are passionate about shaping the future of Michigan’s students, MARESA said.The model will make use of apprenticeships, a way to develop educators that is newly recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. Program fellows who are seeking certification will be required to meet federal apprenticeship guidelines, which means at least one year of practice in classrooms and fully paid at a competitive wage.

Michigan’s teacher pipeline has been challenged in recent years, with state data showing that from 2008-16, enrollment in teacher preparation programs fell by more than 66%, according to MARESA, which indicated that during that period, Michigan led the nation in attrition from those programs.

To address the educator shortfall, the consortium is working with its nine university partners to meet the following requirements:

≤ improving educator diversity across the state;

≤ setting high standards for teacher preparation;

≤ eliminating financial barriers to becoming a teacher;

≤ providing cost-effective bachelor’s degrees and certification opportunities;

≤ and serving rural, urban and suburban schools.

Monica Nordeen, director of communications for Marquette-Alger RESA, said it will act as a fiscal agent.

“Our specific plan is to try to help promote applicants from the Upper Peninsula and get individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in education to apply through Talent Together to help remove some of those barriers that individuals might be facing,” Nordeen told The Mining Journal.

Marquette-Alger RESA also would help place them in local school districts for their apprenticeships, she said.

One of the biggest barriers, Nordeen acknowledged, deals with finances.

“One part of the financial aspect is that the Talent Together program would help pay for their education,” she said. “If somebody needs to get a degree, if they need to get additional coursework to be able to be eligible for a teaching credential, the Talent Together funding will pay for those classes.”

Nordeen said that through the initiative, an individual may continue to earn an income while taking that coursework.

“They’re not losing out on any income,” she said. “They can sustain things and then also move to getting a credential so that they could one day be a classroom teacher.”

The program also enables individuals to pursue their education at one of a number of education preparation programs throughout the state, she said.

“There might be individuals in this program who are downstate who are looking to get their credential in a specific area that Northern Michigan University is amazing at, and they would be matched with NMU to complete their coursework through NMU,” Nordeen said.

Michigan’s commitment to the Talent Together initiative sets an “inspiring precedent for other states facing similar challenges,” said Jack Elsey, founder of the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative, a nonprofit supporting Talent Together, in a statement.

“By proactively tackling the teacher shortage crisis, Michigan is poised to transform its education system and ensure that every student has access to high-quality educators,” Elsey said.

Critical throughout the development of this initiative has been the leadership and support of state Rep. Regina Weiss, D-Oak Park, Elsey said.

“Her dedication and vision have been crucial in driving positive change and addressing the teacher shortage issue head on,” he said.

The approved funding for the Talent Together initiative signifies a shared recognition among Michigan legislators of the critical need to address the shortage of qualified teachers across the state, said Daveda Colbert, superintendent of Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, in a statement. “This commitment to investing in education and supporting aspiring educators echoes Michigan’s dedication to providing the best possible learning experiences for its students,” Colbert said.

Talent Together plans to welcome its first cohort of teacher candidates this fall.

For more information on Talent Together, visit mitalenttogether.org.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.