Michigan State University and Detroit Public Schools Community District are partnering to expand the pipeline of highly trained special education teachers serving Detroit students. Through the partnership, eligible DPSCD educators will pursue MSU's fully online master's degree in special education with an autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, endorsement while receiving tuition support from the district.
The partnership comes as autism identification continues to rise. A 2025 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately 1 in 31 children age 8 across 16 U.S. monitoring sites were identified with autism in 2022, compared with 1 in 36 in 2020. These findings underscore the growing need for services and support for students with autism.
DPSCD has seen the number of students identified with autism spectrum disorder increase from 1,035 in the 2019–20 school year to 1,957 in the 2026–27 school year — nearly 1,000 additional students since the pandemic. This growth underscores the need for more teachers with specialized training to support students with autism in Detroit classrooms.
For DPSCD, the partnership addresses that growing need by helping more teachers earn specialized credentials and develop strategies to support students with autism in Detroit classrooms. The training will prepare educators to meet students' academic, behavioral and communication needs, collaborate with families, and help students participate more fully in learning.
The partnership supports the ASD component of DPSCD's Autism Spectrum Disorder and Emotional Impairment Teacher Development and Endorsement Program. The broader initiative was established through a March 2026 agreement between DPSCD and the Detroit Federation of Teachers to expand educators' access to approved teacher preparation, tuition assistance, professional learning and pathways to state endorsements in high-need special education areas.
The initiative is designed to remove financial barriers, deepen classroom expertise and help DPSCD recruit and retain teachers prepared to support students with autism. By connecting district educators with MSU faculty and research-based training, the partnership will help strengthen instruction and support for students across Detroit classrooms.
“This partnership with Michigan State University is an important investment in our educators and, most importantly, in our students with disabilities,” Superintendent Dr. Nikolai P. Vitti said. “By providing DPSCD teachers with the opportunity to earn an Autism Spectrum Disorder endorsement at no cost, we will continue to develop, recruit and retain teachers to provide ASD students with the certified teachers they deserve. We appreciate MSU for problem-solving with us to meet the unique needs of our students. This partnership is what needs to be replicated across the state and nation.”
MSU's fully online master's degree in special education requires 30 to 36 credits, depending on an educator's previous preparation and teaching certification. The program combines graduate coursework, clinical projects and supervised practicum experiences that educators can complete in their own classrooms or schools.
"This partnership is an exciting advancement for Michigan State University, Detroit Public Schools Community District and, most of all, Detroit educators and students who will benefit from this partnership," said Jerlando F. L. Jackson, dean of the MSU College of Education and MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor of Education. "Together, we imagined possibilities. Together, we will see the transformative impact in Detroit schools as students learn from high-quality, innovative Spartan educators."
Coursework prepares educators to implement evidence-based programming for students with autism; assess academic and behavioral needs; design instructional and behavioral interventions; collaborate with families and school teams; and create structured, predictable learning environments. Educators also learn to use supports such as visual cues, augmentative and alternative communication, peer involvement, social skills instruction and transition strategies to promote student access and independence.
Educators who complete the master's degree requirements, the required ASD endorsement sequence, and the applicable Michigan Test for Teacher Certification can earn the degree and qualify for the ASD endorsement, subject to state certification requirements.
Under the DPSCD-DFT agreement, participants must be full-time certified DPSCD teachers enrolled in a district-approved program. They are expected to complete coursework and certification requirements within three years and remain employed as DPSCD classroom teachers for six years from the start of the program, subject to the agreement's terms and approved exceptions.
This story originally appeared on the College of Education website.