Detroit, MI: SPED teacher shortage tied to "recent increase in child autistic diagnoses"

Oct 13, 2026, Detroit Public Schools, Michigan State University Partner to Address Special Education Teacher Shortage – Model D

As the need for specialized autism education grows, Michigan State University and Detroit Public Schools Community District are teaming up to strengthen the special education workforce.

Teacher shortages have always been prevalent in special education. A recent increase in child autistic diagnoses has pushed the issue into the national spotlight. While some school districts and states offer financial incentives to attract prospective teachers, Michigan State University (MSU) and Detroit Public Schools Community District aims to bridge the gap between dedicated, experienced educators and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) certification – serving a more diverse group of students with specialized needs.  

According to a 2024 study by JAMA Network Open, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in adults and children rose by 175% in the last decade.  Additionally, recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 1 in 31 children were diagnosed on the spectrum – an increase from 1 in 36.  The alarming trend is especially prevalent in children ages 5 to 8 with an increase in diagnosis notably higher in Black and Brown children. The surge reflects a growing national need for special education curricula and autism-focused instructors – a need Detroit’s large urban student

population isn’t immune to. 

A nationwide survey implemented by the Institute of Education Services (IES) reports that special education vacancies are nearly double teaching vacancies in other areas. The DPSCD-MSU partnership seeks to address that shortage head-on, offering advanced ESE certification training in exchange for tuition support and a commitment to teach in the district for six years. Cohort members work closely with MSU College of Education faculty and doctoral students specializing in autism spectrum disorders and applied behavior analysis, gaining hands-on guidance from researchers already immersed in the field. ESE certification recipients also receive additional professional development and competitive compensation as part of the district’s commitment to provide autistic students and their families with high quality, targeted, education uniquely tailored to their learning style and support needs.  . . .