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Educationally Speaking

Issue 68 | July 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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Grants Information Section Header
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Coming Soon! 27m(7) National Board First Time Candidate Grant - Round 3

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is excited to announce a third round of the 27m(7) National Board First Time Candidate grant, pursuant to Section 27m of the School Aid Act [ [link removed] ]. *Teachers in schoolwide Title I schools pursuing National Board Certification for the first time may be eligible*.

The application window will open August 18 and close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on September 29, 2025. Teachers are encouraged to talk to their districts. Local education agencies, both traditional public school districts and public school academies, and intermediate school districts must apply on behalf of educators.

Please visit MDE's National Board Certification Grant Opportunities webpage [ [link removed] ] for information.

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Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Student Loan Repayment Program Update

The individual application period closed on Monday, May 19, 2025. Districts concluded their employment verification step on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. At this time, MDE’s verification of loan documentation and data review is coming to a close, with Grant Award Notifications (GANs) expected to be sent this month to districts where fully approved participants are employed.

Please be advised that the Student Loan Repayment Program grant team is unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding application status. Educators who applied for the FY25 Student Loan Repayment Program and are awaiting the results of their applications will want to stay in communication with their district administrations, who will receive lists of approved and denied applicants at the time the GANs are distributed.

In addition to the status of GANs and award notifications currently available on the Student Loan Repayment Program webpage [ [link removed] ], look for a newly updated Program Administration webpage [ [link removed] ] to be made available for districts in August. This webpage will assist districts with administering payments to approved participants, understanding how to handle special situations, and best practices for communicating with applicants.

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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Future Proud Michigan Educator: Military Veterans Grant

MDE is still accepting applications for the Future Proud Michigan Educator Military Veterans Grant. This grant can be used to provide a salary for a qualifying military veteran for up to two semesters of student teaching and cover additional costs or fees associated with seeking a teaching certificate. This grant targets the goals in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan by focusing on increasing the percentage of adults with post-secondary credentials and the number of certified teachers in areas of shortage. For more information, please visit the Future PME Military Veterans webpage [ [link removed] ].

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Noteworthy News
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Grow Your Roots with MiCAREER: Join Us Virtually!

Do you live or work in a rural community and want to earn or advance your teaching credentials? The Michigan Consortium for Addressing Rural Education Expansion and Retention (MiCAREER) [ [link removed] ] is here to help you take the next step in your professional journey. MiCAREER connects universities and rural school districts to create accessible pathways for aspiring and current educators. Join MiCAREER for a free, virtual recruitment event to explore no-cost certification and career advancement opportunities tailored to rural educators.


* July 16, 2025: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. ET
* August 14, 2025: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. ET
* September 16, 2025: 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET


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


*And that’s not all!* Explore teaching opportunities with the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District while learning about how you can add a teaching credential at no cost through MiCAREER at Alpena Community College on August 4. See our PDF flyer for more information [ [link removed] ].

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2026-27 Michigan Teacher of the Year Nomination Window Open

The 2026-27 Michigan Teacher of the Year nomination window is open. 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. 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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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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