(LANSING) - Some Southern Michigan schools are among 239 that are receiving money to support new teachers and school administrators.
The Michigan Department of Education says a total of almost $10 million is being given to allow districts to develop and strengthen their own mentoring and induction programs, or to partner with a provider of mentoring services to meet State requirements.
Strong mentoring and induction practices increase teacher retention and support Goal 7 in Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan to increase the number of certified teachers in areas of shortage.
Among the schools around Southern Michigan that are receiving money include Colon, Marcellus, Edwardsburg, Decatur, Pansophia Academy in Coldwater along with Hillsdale and Litchfield.
The funding includes nearly $8.5 million to 199 intermediate school districts and local education agencies, both traditional public school districts and public school academies, to use for stipends and training for mentors of teachers; books, materials, professional learning and other resources to support mentoring and induction of new teachers; and staffing costs to cover time spent dedicated to mentoring and onboarding of new teachers.
The remaining $1.5 million was awarded to 118 districts to contract with an approved provider of mentoring services for administrators.