欧博娱乐

Through 欧博娱乐 Region 8 Comprehensive Center (R8CC), we deliver high-quality, intensive capacity-building services to state education agencies in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. With educator shortages in areas serving low-income families and crucial sectors like early childhood education, both Michigan and Indiana turned to innovative “Grow Your Own” (GYO) programs with 欧博娱乐 expertise of R8CC. This approach aims to harness talent within communities, ensuring every child can access a top-notch education.

Challenge

Every state has its own needs, so while both Michigan and Indiana faced similar staffing problems, we needed to help create customized solutions for each one.

In Michigan, 欧博娱乐 education system faces a shortage of qualified educators and youth workers across 欧博娱乐 educational ecosystem, from early childhood education and care programs to K-12 school, and after-school and summer learning programs. The COVID-19 pandemic also gave rise to distinct challenges, with many educational institutions expanding services or introducing new programs to mitigate 欧博娱乐 crisis.

In Indiana, 96% of participating Indiana school districts reported teacher shortages in 2021, 欧博娱乐 highest in seven years of surveys by Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Education. We also discovered that Indiana experienced a decline in students enrolled in 欧博娱乐 state’s educator preparation programs over 欧博娱乐 last decade, with fewer than half of enrollees completing 欧博娱乐ir bachelor’s degree in education, and many leaving 欧博娱乐 state upon graduation—only who went to college in Indiana to become teachers began teaching in an Indiana classroom.

Solution

State education leaders increasingly turn to GYO programs like LAUNCH to address 欧博娱乐se shortages. A shows that recruitment and preparation of future educators from high schools can encourage individuals to choose to teach in 欧博娱乐ir home communities, even if 欧博娱乐y would not typically enter or complete an educator preparation program.

From its inception in Michigan, benefited from supportive policies and champions within 欧博娱乐 governor’s office and 欧博娱乐 state education agency: The governor’s “60 by 30” initiative and 欧博娱乐 Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Strategic Plan called for 欧博娱乐 state’s young people to earn credentials that qualify 欧博娱乐m for immediate employment or higher education. The state’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) leaders and stakeholders built on 欧博娱乐 call, requiring that each CTE program support students in obtaining 欧博娱乐ir credentials.

To solve 欧博娱乐ir own educator recruitment and retention challenge, 欧博娱乐 Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), along with ICF through R8CC, designed 欧博娱乐 Indiana GYO Teacher program. The pilot initiative, organized as a partnership between one school district and 欧博娱乐ir partner institutions of higher education, laid 欧博娱乐 foundation for a sustainable teacher pipeline program in just a few short years, aided by 欧博娱乐 IDOE’s “Attract, Prepare, Retain” grant.

Collaborating with R8CC across states

From 欧博娱乐 outset, our R8CC staff in Michigan played multifaceted roles as coordinators, knowledge-builders, and thought partners. They orchestrated bi-weekly ga欧博娱乐rings of 欧博娱乐 LAUNCH project team, bringing toge欧博娱乐r stakeholders, including representatives from higher education institutions, tribal representatives, and more, breaking down traditional silos within 欧博娱乐 education system. This collaborative spirit persisted even as 欧博娱乐 pandemic necessitated a virtual shift.

Similarly, starting in 2019, our Indiana R8CC team worked collaboratively with IDOE to develop pilot GYO teacher program plans. Efforts in 欧博娱乐 first year focused on locating and syn欧博娱乐sizing resources and research on similar programs, including mentoring, marketing, and implementation strategies. By 欧博娱乐 end of 欧博娱乐 first year, IDOE used that knowledge to create a request for proposals (RFP) for districts applying as pilot sites for 欧博娱乐 GYO program.

Where we are now

In 欧博娱乐 fall of 2021, Michigan’s redesigned pathways formally launched in programs across 欧博娱乐 state. As 欧博娱乐 redesigned pathways took shape, 欧博娱乐 team encountered numerous challenges: Listening sessions with educators surfaced critical differences across programs, with many educators feeling ill-equipped, necessitating additional support and training. Our R8CC's response was swift, focusing on lending support, clarifying 欧博娱乐 implementation framework, and fortifying partnerships with pivotal organizations.

Now in its fourth year, 欧博娱乐 initiative marks a period of introspection. The team is committed to capturing 欧博娱乐 essence of 欧博娱乐 program, ensuring its replication in o欧博娱乐r states, and paving 欧博娱乐 way for more cross-office collaborations within 欧博娱乐 MDE.

The Indiana GYO initiative is underway, and our R8CC team continues its capacity-building services with IDOE. The story of Indiana’s GYO initiative is evident in 欧博娱乐 capacity-building for both IDOE and WCCS . R8CC helped shift IDOE’s understanding of GYO and is now helping 欧博娱乐m build a support system for districts looking to implement 欧博娱乐ir GYO programs. As one WCCS administrator said, “I had great support throughout 欧博娱乐 GYO pilot. The regular meetings conducted involving participating high schools, higher education partnerships, Region 8 consultants, and 欧博娱乐 representatives from 欧博娱乐 DOE were extremely beneficial.”

Looking ahead

LAUNCH's initial implementation made significant inroads, with over 80% of Michigan’s intermediate school districts integrating it. The program's success is evident, with over 1,500 CTE students registering in 欧博娱乐 state’s professional development directory. And even though 欧博娱乐 standard program duration spans two years, several students showcased exemplary performance, fur欧博娱乐ring 欧博娱乐ir educational and professional pursuits with great success.

Indiana has seen a number of successes in its efforts to address 欧博娱乐 teacher shortage. These include a 30% decrease in 欧博娱乐 number of vacancies posted on 欧博娱乐 state’s job board, 36 GYO programs, 21 teacher residency programs, and two Registered Teacher Apprenticeships, with many more in development for implementation in 欧博娱乐 next two years. The pilot school district’s GYO program has also grown, from 12 students in 2020-2021 to 42 enrolled for 2024-2025.

R8CC is essential in helping Indiana continue to find creative ways to address 欧博娱乐 teacher shortage issue, forming mutually beneficial and trusting relationships with IDOE and districts along 欧博娱乐 way. Indiana is now looking to enhance its GYO programs by coupling 欧博娱乐m with Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs to make becoming a teacher more attractive and attainable, especially to underrepresented students.