Detroit needs more special education teachers. MSU partnership aims to help.

November 6, 2026

Detroit Public Schools Community District has partnered with Michigan State University to address a critical shortage of special education teachers, particularly those certified to work with students on the autism spectrum. Through this initiative, 22 Detroit teachers are pursuing MSU's online master's degree in special education with autism spectrum disorder certification, with the district covering the $200,000 tuition cost from its general fund. The program responds to DPSCD's dramatic increase in students diagnosed with autism, which nearly doubled from 1,035 to 1,957 students between 2019-20 and this school year.

Who is affected

1,957 students with autism spectrum disorder currently enrolled in Detroit Public Schools Community District
223,100 students receiving special education services statewide in Michigan
22 Detroit teachers enrolled in the fall cohort pursuing the MSU master's degree
Full-time certified DPSCD teachers eligible for the program
Students with disabilities across Michigan who lack access to properly credentialed special education teachers
Special education teachers, speech language pathologists, social workers, and paraprofessionals experiencing workforce shortages
Detroit Public Schools Community District as an organization
Michigan State University

What action is being taken

Detroit Public Schools Community District is covering tuition costs for 22 teachers enrolled in MSU's online master's degree program in special education with ASD endorsement
Program participants are completing 30 to 36 credits and six courses focused on evidence-based practices for supporting students with autism
The Michigan Department of Education is proposing changes to Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE), including a new stand-alone special education teacher endorsement
DPSCD is operating special education hubs across its schools designed for students to receive services while being mainstreamed in general education schools

Why it matters

This partnership represents a critical response to Michigan's severe special education teacher shortage, where vacancy rates are nearly double the statewide average and many students with disabilities are taught by educators without proper credentials. The dramatic increase in autism diagnoses in Detroit—nearly doubling in just a few years—demonstrates an urgent and growing need that the traditional teacher pipeline cannot meet. By removing financial barriers and creating a structured pathway to certification, this model offers a replicable solution for districts statewide struggling to provide legally mandated services to their most vulnerable students. The initiative also addresses the broader crisis of educators leaving the profession at unsustainable rates, particularly in special education fields, which threatens the quality of education for students with disabilities.

What's next

Program participants are expected to complete their degree and certification requirements within three years of starting the program
Teachers must pass the ASD Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) to meet state requirements for the ASD endorsement
Participating teachers must remain employed as DPSCD teachers for six years from when the program starts
Superintendent Vitti indicated openness to expanding the program to include courses at other Michigan colleges
The Michigan Department of Education's proposed rule changes can take up to 90 days for completion, depending on public comment review, submission to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), and subsequent adoption
Teachers who complete the program will be able to teach in DPSCD's ASD program

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com