LANSING (WWJ) -- Future educators may be looking to Michigan thanks to two new financial assistance programs for both students and student teachers.
The Michigan Future Educator Fellowship Program will provide Michigan college students who are working to become teacher with up to $10,000 per year, renewable up to three years.
A similar program -- the Michigan Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend Program -- offers up to $9,600 in financial assistance for a semester of student teaching. Those funds can be used for tuition, living expenses, child care, or other necessary costs.
For the MI Future Educator Fellowship Program, recipients are required to teach in a Michigan school or preschool for at least three to five years following certification. They must also maintain a 3.0 GPA and start a teacher education program during or after the Fall 2022 semester.
If a student fails to meet requirements after being awarded financial aid, the funding will be treated as an interest-free loan and must be paid back to the state within 10 years.
The $25-million for the Michigan Future Educator Fellowship Program and $50 million for the Student Teacher Stipend Program were part of the record $19.6 billion bipartisan school aid budget passed in July.
State Representative Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) was a critical player in securing the money for the Future Educator programs. He spoke to WWJ's Ryan Marshall about the importance of bringing future teachers to Michigan.
This would be an absolute shot in the arm for anyone that's interested in becoming a school teacher, or a public school teacher," Tisdel said.
"It's critically important because we have a shortage of teachers right now. Some schools and some classrooms are closed down because we can't even find substitute teachers."
Applications for both programs can be submitted starting Monday, October 31.
Anyone interested can visit Michigan.gov for more information on both the fellowship program and the stipend program.
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