Michigan lures teachers to inner cities with $16.7M program
Francis X. Donnelly
The Detroit News
November 08, 2009 14:42 PM
Michigan will be one of the first states to participate in a national program that overhauls the training of math and science teachers and encourages them to work in urban schools with the biggest problems.
Through a program unveiled Friday and run by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, students would have their master's degree training in teaching paid for if they agree to teach for three years in an urban area.
"Having enough great teachers shouldn't depend on where a child lives," said Mike Flanagan, the state's superintendent of public instruction. "This program will help heal that disparity."
Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced the initiative Friday that also includes working with six Michigan colleges to change the way they prepare students for jobs as secondary school teachers.
The colleges, which haven't been selected yet, will be named in January.
The foundation wants the colleges' education departments to work with the math and science departments to develop courses for a master's degree in education. It also wants the prospective teachers to get hands-on experience in secondary schools early in their training rather than at the end of it.
"We want to keep young people here, young scientists and young mathematicians," Granholm said at a press conference at the Detroit Science Center.
She said the improved training would help the state as it changes its economy to one based more on technology.
Alexis Smith and Semaj Peterson said they liked what they heard about the new initiatives.
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(Image: Todd McInturf / The Detroit News)
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