Eligibility, Application Process, and Cost
In partnership with several Michigan Department of
Education (MDE) approved Post Secondary Programs
(PSIs), Talent Together offers different pathways to degree
and teacher certification for the following aspiring teacher
candidates:
- Candidates with no college credits who are interested in
seeking both a degree and teacher certification. - Candidates who have some credits toward a degree or an
earned associate degree and are interested in completing
their bachelor’s degree and seeking initial teacher
certification. - Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree and are
interested in seeking initial teacher certification
Eligibility requirements vary by pathway and Talent Together’s partner programs. At a minimum, a candidate must have
a high school diploma to be eligible for participation in a
Talent Together program. Post-secondary Institutions and Educator Preparation Programs
typically have minimum grade point average requirements
for admission into their programs. During the Talent
Together application process, Success Navigators will also
work with ineligible candidates to create a support plan that
addresses gaps in eligibility (e.g., missing coursework).
Talent Together is a consortium of 56 Intermediate School
Districts (ISDs) and Regional Education Service Agencies
(RESAs) serving over 1.1 million Michigan students. All school
districts and charter schools served by Talent Together ISDs
and RESAs can participate in Talent Together.
Please see our “About” page for more information.
Yes, non-school employees are eligible to apply, though the
consortium will prioritize applications from candidates who
are currently employed by Talent Together districts
and schools including Great Start Readiness Programs (GSRP) at community-based organizations within a participating Intermediate School District.
There will be no cost to apply or enroll in the program. All
costs associated with the program including tuition, fees and
materials will be covered for accepted candidates.
Application Process
Our application for our second cohort will open in mid-January 2024. Candidates selected into Talent Together’s second cohort will begin their programming between May and August 2024. Interested candidates may fill out an interest form here in order to be notified when the application opens.
Candidates will begin the selection process by submitting the application, including submission of a recommendation form from a Talent Together school or district administrator (for current school district employees). Talent Together staff will screen applications to ensure candidates meet the minimum requirements for at least one of the consortium’s partner college/university programs. From there, candidates may be asked to participate in an interview with Talent Together staff. Once accepted into Talent Together, Success Navigators will support candidates to identify the best fit program for their needs and through the post-secondary institution’s application process.
Talent Together’s goal is to support current employees to
find an appropriate, right-fit pathway into the teaching
profession. Consortium-based Success Navigators will
support candidates through the application process to help
candidates identify the pathway and programs that are the
right fit for each individual to increase the likelihood of
acceptance. Because eligibility requirements vary by
Educator Preparation Program provider, admission into a
Talent Together program is not guaranteed.
Coursework and Mentorship
Talent Together is currently partnered with 17 post-secondary institutions, including:
- Adrian College
- Alma College
- Aquinas College
- Concordia University
- Central Michigan University
- Davenport University
- Degree Forward
- Eastern Michigan University
- Ferris State University
- Lake Superior State University
- Northern Michigan University
- Professional Innovators in Teaching
- Sienna Heights University
- #TEACH
- University of Michigan – Flint
- Western Governors University
- Western Michigan University
The consortium anticipates expanding college/university PSI partnerships in the future
Most Talent Together participants who are seeking initial certification will participate in a Registered Apprenticeship Program that uses a “learn and earn” model of preparation. Though course requirements will be based on the number of credits a participant has towards a bachelor’s degree and will vary by program and post-secondary institution, all candidates will have opportunities to earn credit for prior learning experiences/coursework and will earn credit for their work in school-based roles. During the final year of training, most candidates will become “Apprentice Teachers” and co-teach with experienced mentor teachers to demonstrate Registered Apprenticeship pProgram standards before becoming fully certified.
Talent Together participants will receive extensive support from consortium-based staff and Talent Together Mentor and Model Teachers including job-embedded coaching.
Talent Together is building opportunities for candidates from underrepresented groups to be placed in cohorts that centralize their identities and ensures they feel a deep sense of belonging and inclusion in the teaching profession and their schools.
Certification
The following endorsements can be pursued through one of
Talent Together’s participating Educator Preparation
Program partnerships:
- Elementary Education including options to earn
endorsements in:
-Early Childhood General Ed (Birth to Kindergarten)
-Lower Elementary (Pre-Kindergarten to 3rd Grade)
-Upper Elementary (3rd-6th Grade)
- English as a Second Language
- Special Education (Kindergarten-12th grade) including
endorsements in:
– Autism
– Cognitive Impairment
– Emotional Impairment
– Learning Disabilities
- Secondary Certification Areas (7th-12th grades)
– Secondary Integrated Sciences
– Secondary Mathematics
Employment
Talent Together participants are required to be working in school or district-based instructional roles or (for candidates seeking early childhood education certification) in community-based Great Start Readiness Programs (GSRP) within a participant Intermediate School District region for most of their programming. Applications will be accepted from people who are not currently employed in a school system.
Talent Together participants who successfully complete all
coursework and other program requirements will be
guaranteed a teaching position. If a position is not available
in a participant’s host school or district, the participant will
be eligible for teaching positions at other Talent Together
districts.
Yes, Talent Together participants are required to commit to
teaching in their host school or district for at least 5 years.