Michigan Lawmakers Move to Address K-12 Literacy Crisis With New Teacher Training and Retention Bills
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan state lawmakers are proposing a series of new education initiatives aimed at addressing the state's persistent literacy crisis, with bills targeting teacher training requirements and the return of third-grade retention policies.
The legislative push comes amid alarming data showing Michigan's students ranking near the bottom nationally in reading proficiency. According to recent state assessments, just 38.9% of third graders were proficient on the English language arts portion of the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress last year — the lowest performance in the exam's 11-year history.
On the national front, Michigan ranks 44th in the nation for fourth-grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, with only 24% of Michigan fourth graders proficient in 2024 compared to 30% being proficient nationally.
Three Major Bills Target Reading Problem
Republican lawmakers in the Michigan House have introduced three significant pieces of legislation that would reshape how the state approaches literacy instruction:
House Bill 5697 would require that by the 2031-32 school year, all K-5 educators who provide, support, or oversee instruction, including in literacy, must have been trained in the science of reading. This refers to a body of knowledge that emphasizes phonics along with building vocabulary and background knowledge. While the bill doesn't specify a particular training program, a legislative analysis by the House Fiscal Agency indicates that the current training being encouraged for Michigan teachers — Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRS — would meet the requirements.
House Bill 5646 would require that, beginning September 30, 2027, an individual seeking a teaching certificate in Michigan must have completed a teacher preparation program that included training in the science of reading. This bill would affect teacher preparation programs that train future educators.
House Bill 5520 would bring back the third-grade retention policy that Michigan previously had in place. Under this proposal, struggling third graders identified based on their state test scores would be required to repeat the grade. The bill includes "good cause" exemptions, such as for students with disabilities whose educational plan team leader exempts them from the requirement.
Bipartisan Support Despite Previous Opposition
Rep. Nancy DeBoer, a Republican from Holland who chairs the House Education and Workforce committee, introduced the bipartisan bill that would make training in the science of reading a requirement for K-5 teachers. During a Wednesday hearing of the committee, DeBoer emphasized the importance of reading for children's independence and future opportunities.
"Reading gives children the independence to pick up a book and go anywhere," DeBoer said. "Unless you're in the state of Michigan and you're three-quarters of the students in eighth grade who can't read or do math in a competent manner, that is a tragedy we are responsible for."
The State Board of Education has also urged that science of reading training become a mandate for all K-5 teachers, stating that the lack of one requirement "has led to inconsistent participation of Michigan educators and inconsistent access to instruction based on the science of reading for Michigan's students."
Previous Efforts and Current Budget Priorities
This isn't the first time Michigan lawmakers have taken aim at the state's literacy challenges. In 2016, fueled by similarly troubling test results, Michigan passed a Read by Grade 3 law that required early intervention, the hiring of literacy coaches, and retention of third graders struggling to read. That retention rule was rescinded in 2023 when Democrats controlled the legislature and the governor's office, with critics arguing the law was punitive and wasn't working.
During her State of the State address last month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer detailed steps already underway to improve literacy and recommendations in her budget proposal for the coming fiscal year. Among them is additional money she wants to invest in high-impact literacy tutoring, high-quality curriculum, literacy training for teachers, and hiring of literacy coaches.
"This is a serious problem," Whitmer said in the address. "Our kids deserve better."
Federal Options Also Under Consideration
While state lawmakers push for new legislation, House Speaker Matt Hall is also calling on Governor Whitmer to opt Michigan into a new federal program he says could help improve student literacy: the Education Freedom Tax Credit. The federal program allows Michiganders to donate to student education and receive a tax break of up to $1,700. The donated money goes to organizations that grant scholarships, which helps parents receive money to pay for tutoring or other educational support.
This federal option represents yet another avenue for addressing Michigan's reading challenges, though it differs significantly from the state-level proposals that would mandate teacher training and potentially bring back grade retention policies.
The Broader Context
Michigan's literacy crisis has been a persistent challenge for decades, with the state consistently ranking near the bottom nationally in reading assessments. The 2016 Read by Grade 3 Law was one of the most comprehensive literacy reform efforts in the United States at the time, but despite those efforts, Michigan students' performance has remained stagnant and even declining in recent years.
As lawmakers debate the new proposals, the question remains whether these measures — particularly the third-grade retention policy that was previously rescinded — will prove effective in addressing Michigan's persistent literacy challenges.
This story is based on multiple sources including coverage from Chalkbeat, Bridge Michigan, WNEM, and other Michigan news outlets.