Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) announced a new partnership with Michigan State University (MSU) to help close the growing gap in special‑education teachers certified to work with students on the autism spectrum.
Program details
Starting this fall, DPSCD will pay tuition for district teachers to earn MSU’s online master’s degree in special education with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) endorsement. Twenty‑two Detroit teachers have already enrolled in the inaugural cohort, according to Erin Hamilton, MSU’s special‑education master’s program coordinator.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the initiative creates a “pipeline” for a critical need, noting that without such efforts Detroit’s students would lack certified educators.
Rising demand
Vitti highlighted that the number of students diagnosed with ASD in the district has jumped from 1,035 in the 2019‑20 school year to 1,957 this year, driving the urgent need for more qualified teachers.
Statewide, about 13.5% of the 223,100 students receiving special‑education services have ASD, and vacancy rates for special‑education positions are nearly double the overall teacher vacancy rate, according to a report from the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at MSU.
Commitments and expectations
Participants must be full‑time, certified DPSCD teachers and must complete the degree and endorsement within three years. In return, they agree to remain in Detroit classrooms for six years, helping retain expertise in the district.
The district is covering roughly $200,000 in tuition for the cohort, funded from the general fund.
Benefits for teachers and students
Hamilton said the tuition support removes a major cost barrier, while the six‑year service commitment ensures that Detroit schools keep the newly trained teachers.
The online master’s program requires 30‑36 credits and includes six courses focused on evidence‑based practices for autism, such as communication supports, inclusive instruction, and behavior‑intervention strategies. Graduates who pass the ASD Michigan Test for Teacher Certification will earn the state endorsement and be qualified to teach in DPSCD’s ASD program.
Future outlook
Vitti expressed hope that the model could be replicated across Michigan, encouraging other districts and universities to develop similar accelerated, paid‑for pathways.
Heather Eckner, director of statewide education for the Autism Alliance of Michigan, called the initiative a “positive” step and asked whether the model could be scaled statewide.
The Michigan Department of Education is also reviewing rule changes that could create a stand‑alone special‑education endorsement, though ASD and other specific disabilities would still require separate endorsements.
Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.
