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Educationally Speaking

Issue 69 | August 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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The Annual Educator Effectiveness Data Appeals Window Opens September 1

Each year, starting on the first business day in September and ending on the first business day in December, districts and public school academies (PSAs) may submit data appeals for inaccurate educator effectiveness ratings for any of the past five years into the Registry of Educational Personnel (REP). This data correction window is only for the purpose of updating inaccurate effectiveness ratings data within REP. It is not a process for contesting the outcome of an evaluation. Any data corrected during the window for teachers in instructional roles will appear in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) immediately after being entered by the district.

For questions regarding educator evaluation, please contact [email protected].

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Vendor Selected for MiEdWorkforce 

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) awarded a contract to Double Line Inc., a LearningMate company, to assist in building MiEdWorkforce. MiEdWorkforce is a single integrated system that streamlines PreK-12 workforce reporting and educator credentialing processes while reducing reporting burdens and improving data transparency. 

Double Line Inc. has extensive experience with Michigan’s educational ecosystem, including supporting the Michigan DataHub since its inception in 2013 and developing MiLearn, a dynamic reporting system for school assessment testing results.

MiEdWorkforce is scheduled to launch in summer/fall 2027.

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Did You Know
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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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School Social Worker Update

* Qualified School Social Workers can apply for a Preliminary or Professional School Social Worker Certificate through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) [ [link removed] ]. If you already have a Full Approval as a School Social Worker, you may also apply for one of these certificates.
* Beginning July 1, 2025, applicants for a School Social Worker certificate [ [link removed] ] will need to pay an application evaluation fee before their application will be reviewed.

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Grants Information Section Header
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Grant Open! Michigan Teachers Can Earn National Board Certification

The National Board First Time Candidate Grant (27m(7)) is available for eligible teachers employed in schoolwide Title I buildings wishing to pursue National Board Certification for the first time.

Local education agencies, both traditional public school districts and public school academies, and intermediate school districts may apply on behalf of eligible teachers. The application window is open August 18 until September 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Full details regarding the third round of the National Board First Time Candidate Grant (27m(7)) and eligibility requirements can be found on the Michigan Department of Education National Board Certification Grant Opportunities webpage [ [link removed] ]. Please direct questions about the grant to [email protected].

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Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Student Loan Repayment Program Update

The processing of Student Loan Repayment Program applications has been completed. Districts will receive lists of their educators' final eligibility status for the FY 2025 Student Loan Repayment Program with their official Grant Award Notifications (GANs) distributed on or around August 20, 2025. Additionally, an email will be sent to all applicants on August 22, 2025, informing them of their approval or denial. Information regarding the overall outcomes of applications can be accessed on the Student Loan Repayment Program webpage [ [link removed] ].

In addition, a newly updated Program Administration webpage [ [link removed] ] has been made available to assist districts with administering FY 2025 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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#proudMIeducator
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The 2025-2026 Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council Plans a Year of Progress

The Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC) is made up of ten Regional Teachers of the Year, including the Teacher of the Year. In addition to providing a voice for teachers and students to the Michigan Department of Education, each year the council works collectively on a project to address a pressing education issue. The 2025-2026 MTLAC cohort [ [link removed] ] recently met to begin their work on this year’s project.

2025-26 Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC) [ [link removed] ]

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Talent Pool Logo
Talent Pool

The Michigan Talent Pool is a group of elementary and secondary educators nominated by their supervisors that the Michigan Department of Education draws upon throughout the year when opportunities for engagement and recognition become available.

We welcome recommendations of outstanding classroom teachers and/or principals who exhibit strong potential for professional leadership, and demonstrate the following:


* Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;
* Exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom;
* Contributions to education that are largely unheralded, yet are worthy of the spotlight; and
* An engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues, and the community.

Recommendations to the Talent Pool should be submitted by the nominee's supervisor and can be made via the online recommendation form [ [link removed] ].

The nomination form includes a one-page letter of recommendation explaining how the nominee meets the above criteria. Please note that these recommendations are confidential and should not be discussed with the recommended educator or others in your school or community.

Please direct any questions to Jennifer Robel at [email protected].



*Recommendation Form* [ [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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