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Educationally Speaking

Issue 67 | June 2025
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*Be sure your email address is up-to-date in the **Michigan Online Educator Certification System* [ [link removed] ]* to receive important notifications regarding YOUR certificate.*

**Please see the *archived newsletters [ [link removed] ]* for other important information that affects licensure.**

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Noteworthy News
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Grow Your Roots with MiCAREER

The Michigan Consortium for Addressing Rural Education Expansion and Retention (MiCAREER) [ [link removed] ] is a collaboration between universities and PK-12 rural districts to support rural educators in obtaining certification and endorsement.

MiCAREER offers no-cost pathways to certification that focus on experiential learning and a variety of candidate supports throughout the certification process. Join one of MiCAREER’s regional events in June to learn more about how MiCAREER can help you and your district solve staffing needs!


* June 19, 2025 – Quality Inn, St. Ignace, MI
* June 24, 2025 – Holiday Inn Midland, Midland, MI
* June 25, 2025 – Holiday Inn & Suites Jackson, Jackson, MI
* June 26, 2025 – Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI


*Register for MiCAREER Events* [ [link removed] ]


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2026-27 Michigan Teacher of the Year Nomination Window Open

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has opened the 2026-27 Michigan Teacher of the Year nomination window. This annual program recognizes outstanding teachers in our state. Each year, ten Regional Teachers of the Year are selected through a competitive application process, with one of the Regional Teachers of the Year named Michigan Teacher of the Year.

Parents/guardians, students, colleagues, and community members are invited to nominate a teacher. To be eligible, a nominee must have a valid Michigan teaching certificate, at least five years of teaching experience in Michigan, and be in good standing with their school or district. Teachers cannot self-nominate.

Please make nominations using the online form [ [link removed] ], which is available until Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., eastern time (ET).

We recognize that some districts and intermediate school districts have an established process for awarding local teachers of the year. District representatives are welcome to nominate their district level teachers of the year by directly emailing [email protected].

To learn more about the Michigan Teacher of the Year program and MDE's other educator recognition programs, visit the program webpage [ [link removed] ]. Please contact [email protected] with questions regarding the program or nomination process.

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Did You Know
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Reminder: Permits Available Soon for the 2025-26 Academic Year! 

Beginning July 1, Michigan schools may begin applying for staffing flexibilities for educators. These staffing flexibilities include permits, Special Education Approvals, and Annual Career Authorizations. These credentials are applied for by, and issued to, employing school districts. If a district anticipates a vacancy in a non-core subject area will extend for an entire academic year, remember that the initial Full-Year Basic Permit in a non-core subject area has the same academic requirements as the Daily Substitute Permit without the necessity of additional applications or extensions.

For more information on staffing flexibilities, please visit the Educator Staffing and Placement webpage [ [link removed] ].

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Professional Practices Reminders

As we prepare for the new school year, MDE reminds all districts and educators about conviction disclosure and reporting requirements. The Revised School Code requires prospective employers, local and intermediate school districts, and public school academies to:


* Conduct criminal background checks with fingerprinting for all job applicants, including those contracted through third-party agencies (e.g., substitute educators, school safety officers).
* Require an applicant to authorize current and former employers to disclose any unprofessional conduct.
* Request an applicant’s current or previous employers to provide results of a criminal history check.
* Decline to hire an applicant who does not provide the required authorization and release about unprofessional conduct.
* Notify the superintendent of public instruction within 15 days after being notified or learning from an authoritative source that an employee who holds an educator credential has been convicted of a criminal sexual conduct or another crime described in MCL 380.1535a [ [link removed] ] or 380.1539b [ [link removed] ].
* Retain personnel files for employees cited for unprofessional conduct for not less than 50 years after the individuals are no longer employed by the district.
* Retain all other personnel files for not less than 6 years after the individuals are no longer employed by the district.
* Respond to employers’ requests for information about unprofessional conduct within 20 business days.
* Refrain from entering into a collective bargaining agreement, employment contract, or resignation or severance agreement, or any other contract or agreement that has the effect of suppressing or expunging information about substantiated unprofessional conduct of an employee or former employee.

Local and intermediate school districts and public school academies (PSAs) are also encouraged to take advantage of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Educator Identification Clearinghouse (Ed ID Clearinghouse). The Ed ID Clearinghouse is a database that monitors and tracks adverse actions taken against an educator’s credential.

Many of these actions are not related to criminal prosecutions and do not show up in traditional criminal background checks. By including the Ed ID Clearinghouse in the screening of certified and non-certified applicants, a school district can make more fully informed hiring decisions. More information can be found at the Ed ID Clearinghouse website [ [link removed] ].

All applicants directly hired by a local or intermediate school district, public school academy, or third-party employment agency must provide:


* Written release of current and former employers from liability for providing information about unprofessional conduct.
* A written statement disclosing any criminal convictions and unprofessional conduct.
* Contact information for all current and former employers.
* Written consent for a criminal history check.

Additional resources and information about how criminal background checks and criminal convictions may impact an educator’s credential can be found on MDE’s Professional Practices website [ [link removed] ].

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Grants Information Section Header
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FY 2025 Student Loan Repayment Program Update

Following the conclusion of the individual application period on Monday, May 19, 2025, employment verification completed by districts concludes today, Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

The subsequent phases of the FY25 Student Loan Repayment Program, namely the verification of loan documentation and data review, will be completed by MDE.

Please be advised that the Student Loan Repayment Program grant team is unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding application status. If your application is approved through both the loan and employment verification processes, your employer will be formally notified in July via the Grant Award Notification (GAN). Employers will not have access to information regarding the status of applications until this notification is issued.

Upon receipt of the GAN, district administrators will be responsible for disseminating information regarding payments to approved participants. MDE will post updates regarding the status of GANs and award notifications on the Student Loan Repayment Program webpage [ [link removed] ] in late July.

For general questions about the Student Loan Repayment Program, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Program webpage [ [link removed] ] or its associated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage [ [link removed] ].

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Upcoming Opportunities

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A Day of Learning on Antisemitism

Connect with superintendents; principals; district leaders; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professionals; curriculum directors; and humanities educators from across Michigan for a meaningful professional learning experience on August 14, 2025, at Lansing Community College.

Building off of Michigan's Holocaust Education mandate, and created in alignment with the State Board of Education Resolution Against Antisemitism [ [link removed] ], this professional Day of Learning will give district staff the knowledge and tools they need to ensure an inclusive environment for all students and to address incidents of antisemitism.

This symposium marks the beginning of an ongoing educational journey. The three primary goals are to:


* Foster a brave space for open, curious dialogue about antisemitism and its root causes.
* Deliver impactful professional development for educators and administrators on recognizing and responding to antisemitism.
* Introduce educational resources and individuals who can support schools now and into the future.

Register now for A Day of Learning on Antisemitism [ [link removed] ] for middle and high school leaders and educators. This is presented in cooperation with Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Education [ [link removed] ], Boundless [ [link removed] ], and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) [ [link removed] ]. The event is free of charge. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided. State continuing education clock hours (SCECHs) are available for Michigan educators.

*Register for A Day of Learning on Antisemitism* [ [link removed] ]


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Teacher Discounts [ [link removed] ]
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"Copyright © 2025 Office of Educator Excellence, All rights reserved."

Michigan Department of Education - Office of Educator Excellence
608 W. Allegan Street, Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 241-5000 | [email protected]






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