Media Teacher Shortage Claims Abundant, Actual Teacher Shortages Not

East Lansing Public Schools employs more teachers today than at any time in the past four years. This despite persistent media reports that schools across Michigan are in the midst of a debilitating teacher shortage.

The school district has 235 teachers on the payroll this school year, which is 25 more than the 2020-21 school year and 11 more than the 224 teachers East Lansing employed in 2017-18.

While there are more teachers, the number of students has been stagnant. In 2017-18, the district’s enrollment was 3,626 students, and in the 2020-21 school year it was up by 40 students. The state has yet to release attendance data for the 2021-22 school year.