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Educationally Speaking

Issue 72 | November 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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Public Comment on Proposed Teacher Preparation Standards in Music

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) requests public comment on proposed Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of Music. These proposed standards support goal 7 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan [ [link removed] ] by increasing the number of certified teachers in areas of shortage. The proposed music standards would replace Michigan’s current Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of Music Education, [ [link removed] ] adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) on May 11, 2004.

Feedback on the proposed music teacher preparation standards must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., December 4, 2025, at the Teachers of Music Preparation Standards Public Comment website [ [link removed] ].

All comments will be reviewed in preparing final recommendations to the State Board of Education at a future meeting. For additional information, please contact Dr. Gina Garner at [email protected].

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Did You Know
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The Annual Educator Effectiveness Data Appeals Window Closes After December 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 MOECS immediately after being entered by the district.

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

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2026 NASDTEC Annual Conference Call for Proposals

The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) has announced its 97th Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN on June 14-16, 2026. NASDTEC is dedicated to providing leadership and support to those responsible for the preparation, certification or licensure, and continuing professional development of educators.

Relying on feedback from previous conferences, the conference committee strives to utilize the talents of NASDTEC members and partners to present interactive sessions in which speakers share innovative and proven practices, including successes and opportunities for growth.

For the 97th Annual Conference, the conference committee is seeking proposals that engage stakeholders across the educator continuum and are focused on the following topics:


* *Conference Strand 1:* The New Credentialing Frontier: Modernizing and Innovating Licensure for Barrier-Free Entry to the Profession
* *Conference Strand 2:* Tech, Ethics, and Efficiency: Tech's True Role in Preparation and Certification
* *Conference Strand 3*: Policy, Partnership, and Productive Dialogue: Navigating Tough Topics and Collaborating for Success
* *Conference Strand 4*: The Exploratory and Emerging Trends in Preparation, Licensure, and Certification

Proposals must be submitted by the close of business on November 21, 2025. Concurrent sessions will be announced by early January 2026.

*Submit a Proposal* [ [link removed] ]


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There's Still Time! Register and Attend Today's Appropriate Placement Webinar

Today's comprehensive appropriate placement webinar is a collaborative presentation by the Center for Educational Performance and Information and the Michigan Department of Education. The presentation is 10:30 a.m. to noon, featuring useful examples and varied perspectives on appropriate placement. 

*Register Now to Attend* [ [link removed] ]


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Grants Information Section Header
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In Case You Missed It: Grow Your Own Staff 27b Grant Sunset Guidance Video

All districts awarded 27b Grow Your Own Staff funds are encouraged to watch the newest 27b grant technical assistance video [ [link removed] ]. The 30-minute video features reminders of upcoming deadlines, addresses common grant misconceptions, offers proactive suggestions for administering the grant in its final year, and previews additional supports and opportunities the program office has planned in the coming months.

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Applications Closing Soon for FY26 EXPLORE Section 504 Grants 

The Section 504 EXPLORE grants, which fund Grow Your Own EXPLORE programs [ [link removed] ] for students and/or tuition grants to eligible EXPLORE graduates, will close on December 4, 2025. 

The EXPLORE grant: Section 504 website [ [link removed] ] provides more information, including the grant application timeline and a downloadable Word template of the application. After the application window closes, applications will be reviewed and awards approved. Applicants can expect notifications from MDE in February.

For questions and inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]. 

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Coming Soon! Michigan Teachers Can Earn Grant Awards for National Board Certification

The Michigan Department of Education is excited to announce a third round of the National Board Recognized Achievement Grant (27m). Teachers who hold National Board Certification at the time of application may be eligible. National Board Certification is a high-quality professional development program that elevates educator standards to improve learning outcomes for students.

The application window will open January 14, 2026, and close at 5:00 p.m. on February 25, 2026. Teachers are encouraged to communicate with their districts. Local education agencies (both traditional public school districts and public school academies) and intermediate school districts must apply on behalf of educators.

Full details regarding the third round of the National Board Recognized Achievement Grant (27m) and eligibility requirements can be found on MDE's National Board Certification Grant Opportunities webpage [ [link removed] ]. Please direct questions regarding the grant to [email protected].

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Resource Spotlight
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Guidance for a Comprehensive School Mental Health System of Supports

Michigan schools are increasingly recognizing the need for comprehensive mental health supports to address the growing social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students. In response, the School Behavioral Health Unit within MDE’s Office of Health and Safety developed a guidance document [ [link removed] ] and supplemental brief [ [link removed] ] with over 50 Michigan educators and leaders to provide clearer direction, alignment with multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and increased collaboration between education and mental health systems.

The documents provide schools with clear, consistent guidance to implement comprehensive mental health supports aligned with MTSS. They also reinforce MDE’s leadership and commitment to student well-being across the state and support goal 3 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan [ [link removed] ] to improve the health, safety, and wellness of all learners.

*Mental Health Guidance (PDF)* [ [link removed] ]


*Supplemental Brief (PDF)* [ [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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