That could be a reflection of Michigan's shrinking number of students, wealth of teaching colleges and budget cuts that are forcing schools to cut staffs
LANSING (AP) -- Hundreds of new Michigan teachers are leaving for positions in other states, a reflection of Michigan's shrinking number of students, wealth of teaching colleges, and budget cuts that are forcing schools to cut staffs.
Since peaking in the 2004-05 academic year, the number of Michigan public school teachers has shrunk by nearly nine percent, a loss of around 10,000 jobs, according to the Center for Educational Performance and Information.
That number tracks the eight percent drop in students to 1.56 million Michigan has seen over the past five years.
But the drop in teachers also is partly attributable to shrinking state support for public education. School districts this fall must absorb a cut of at least $370 per student; that's part of an overall 2.2 percent cut in state funding.
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