Michigan’s Historic $87 Million Literacy Investment Shows Mixed Results as State Assessment Scores Reveal Both Progress and Challenges
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Michigan launches its largest-ever literacy investment with $87 million funding 561 school districts for evidence-based reading materials and teacher training, while 2025 state assessment results show improvement in most grade levels despite persistent challenges in early elementary reading proficiency.
Implementation Across 561 Districts Shows Immediate Impact
State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice announced that 561 local and intermediate school districts successfully applied for and received funding from the $87 million appropriation, with districts selecting high-quality literacy materials from an approved menu of resources recommended by the Committee for Literacy Achievement. The funding structure includes three categories: Early Literacy Tier 1 Materials (receiving a $30,000 base award plus approximately $80 per pupil), Early Literacy Interventions ($10,000 base award plus $13 per pupil), and Professional Development ($1,500 base award plus $2 per pupil). The initiative aims to address a critical issue: during the 2022-2023 school year, elementary school teachers across Michigan reported using 444 different curriculum resources for English language arts, creating inconsistency in instructional quality statewide.
According to 2025 M-STEP and SAT/PSAT scores released by the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan students improved their performance on 14 of 20 tests in spring 2025, with students improving in five of seven English language arts grade-level assessments and five of seven math grade-level assessments. However, the results reveal persistent challenges in early elementary literacy. Only 38.9% of third-graders scored proficient on the state’s English language arts test, down from 39.6% in 2024, representing the lowest third-grade ELA proficiency rate in the 11-year history of the M-STEP assessment. State officials noted that ELA proficiency rates for grades 5-7 in 2025 were the highest in the last three years, and math proficiency rates in grades 4-7 were also at their three-year peak, indicating that older students are showing recovery from pandemic-related learning disruptions.
Author Quote"
This represents exactly the kind of systematic, evidence-based approach that research shows can drive sustainable improvement – tackling materials, training, and support systems simultaneously rather than piecemeal solutions.
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Additional Innovation Funding and Legislative Support
Complementing the core literacy funding, Michigan also awarded $10 million through a competitive application process to fund innovative literacy initiatives, with 115 traditional public school districts, charter schools, and intermediate school districts completing applications for the READ Innovation Grant. A minimum of 36 applicants will receive up to $187,500 to implement their innovations during the 2025-26 school year, with six finalists eligible for additional $375,000 funding and two final winners receiving $500,000 incentive awards based on student achievement impact. Rice called on the Legislature to double the literacy funding in the next budget, emphasizing that the large number of applications demonstrates significant demand for research-based materials.
Key Takeaways:
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$87 million investment: Historic funding reaches 561 Michigan school districts for literacy materials, interventions, and professional development
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Mixed assessment results: Students improved in 5 of 7 ELA grade levels and 14 of 20 total tests, but third-grade proficiency dropped to 38.9%
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Systematic approach: Initiative replaces 444 different curricula with evidence-based materials aligned to science of reading research
Building on Historic Legislation and Federal Coordination
The current investment builds on long-awaited laws signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in October 2024 that will strengthen the effectiveness of literacy instruction and intervention for Michigan students, requiring districts to use research-based, science of reading materials and screen for characteristics of dyslexia beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The initiative also connects to broader federal support, with Michigan receiving a 5-year $16 million award for the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, providing additional resources for building educational and professional development literacy systems serving children from Birth to Grade 12. The Superintendent also advocated for additional policy changes, including lower class sizes in high-poverty K-3 classrooms, more in-person instructional time, and mandatory LETRS training for K-5 teachers and administrators.
Author Quote"
The mixed results are predictable during implementation transitions. Improvement in grades 5-7 suggests earlier investments are working, while grades 3-4 challenges reflect both pandemic impacts and adjustment periods for new methods.
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Michigan’s $87 million literacy initiative demonstrates the power of comprehensive, evidence-based reform when implemented at scale. The mixed assessment results during this transition period are exactly what research predicts – temporary implementation challenges followed by sustained improvements as teachers master new science-of-reading methods and students benefit from consistent, high-quality materials. This systematic approach, combining funding, training, and accountability, creates the foundation for long-term literacy gains across Michigan’s diverse school districts. For deeper insights on educational policy implementation and large-scale literacy reform strategies, explore our https://learningsuccess.ai/membership/all-access/”>All Access Program.
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