Education institutions are facing considerable challenges, as many schools are dealing with low student enrollment and others face challenges finding qualified teachers. Students are becoming less interested in college. Times are changing, and we must take notice and develop solutions. It is imperative to incorporate more fun and excitement into learning and educational achievement. Additionally, we must elevate and bolster the teaching profession to ensure the retention of exceptional educators.
I can remember being excited for the first day of school, telling my teacher what I wanted to be when I grew up. I could hardly wait to settle into my dorm room and attend my first college class. I viewed teachers as heroes and went into the teaching profession because I wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives. Unfortunately, these kinds of stories are less common than ever before. Despite the various challenges faced, Southeast Michigan is also witnessing positive developments in its educational landscape.
SEMCOG Education Members Share Perspectives on Educator Challenges
I had the opportunity to interview some SEMCOG education members and get their perspectives. One of the issues that resonated with secondary and postsecondary education is low student enrollment. The pandemic is one of the main reasons for the student enrollment decline. When COVID-19 hit, many parents and college students had to make tough adjustments, including learning outside of the classroom. Some parents decided to homeschool their children for reasons such as safety and the cost of childcare. Childcare costs have risen over the last decade and have become unaffordable in many households. According to Kids Count data profiles developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, in 2021, 14% of young children in Michigan had parents who changed jobs because of issues with childcare costs and availability.
College students who were parents and essential workers had to leave their jobs to care for their children. Post-COVID-19, many households have remained the same. As of May 2023, 85% of students are enrolled in public schools, 9.6% attend private schools, and 5.4% are homeschooled. One of the most significant barriers to college enrollment is the high cost of tuition, fees, and other associated expenses. Many students, particularly those from low-income families, may perceive college as unaffordable or may be deterred by the prospect of accumulating significant student loan debt.
Another issue educators are seeing is that fewer young people are going to college. One observable trend is the growing number of “influencers” making a living – or attempting to – on social media. At least some young minds appear to be gravitating toward the internet – rather than college – as place to learn and leverage their skills. As such, colleges are becoming more creative to gain student attraction and retention. Some institutions are creating certificate programs that focus on social media and entrepreneurship.
K-12 Education Members Experiencing Their Own Set of Problems
At the top of the list of challenges confronting K-12 education professionals is the task of recruiting qualified teachers. Teacher salaries are often lower compared to other professions, requiring similar levels of education and expertise. Poor benefits packages, including healthcare and retirement plans, may prevent potential candidates from pursuing careers in education or lead experienced educators to seek better-compensated opportunities outside of teaching.
Teachers face many challenges in the classroom. These include large class sizes, limited resources, and standardized testing requirements. These requirements can contribute to burnout and job dissatisfaction, making teaching less appealing as a career choice. Certification requirements can be time-consuming as well and not feasible for someone looking to change careers and maintain a standard of living while completing student teaching requirements without pay.
Empowering Education: Initiatives and Innovations in Michigan
What are the solutions? What efforts are underway to address these challenges in the region?
A group of Melvindale High School students are enrolled in Bradley MacDonald’s education foundation course. They gain insights into the teaching profession in Michigan, covering everything from classroom management to teaching standards and lesson planning. This initiative is part of a larger statewide endeavor to provide more high schoolers with training credentials and encourage them to explore careers in education. While I gained a generational passion for teaching from my mother, an educator for almost 40 years, this kind of program would have been beneficial on my own journey to becoming a teacher.
What’s helping higher education institutions is grant funding from achievement scholarships at the state level and increased Pell Grants at the federal level, providing more financial incentives for students to enroll. Institutions in Michigan are also expanding their outreach to student populations that are typically underserved and getting creative with direct-admissions programs, increased transfer agreements and expansion of dual-enrollment programs for high school students. The Michigan Achievement scholarship also plays a role. Students can receive up to $5,500 annually for up to five years for students enrolled at public universities, the equivalent of a third or more of tuition costs at those schools. Students attending private colleges in Michigan can get up to $4,000 per year for up to five years, while those enrolled at community colleges can get up to $2,750 annually for up to three years. Those in career training programs can earn up to $2,000 for up to two years.
Michigan launched another grant program, Michigan Reconnect, in early 2021 to provide a tuition-free path to an associate degree or career training for students 25 and older. The State’s current budget includes $70 million for the program’s expansion this year. This is a huge incentive for students to attend higher education institutions.
The problems facing schools today are complex and vary among educators in K-12 and post-secondary institutions. By acknowledging these challenges and working together to address them, we can strive towards creating a more equitable and effective educational system. We need a system that influences every learner to reach their full potential, attracts more students to higher education, and recruits and maintains great teachers for years to come.
I’m always happy to share my experience as a teacher, and while it wasn’t easy, the reward of seeing students become professionals was well worth it.
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