Michigan Delivers Historic $87 Million Literacy Victory as Assessment Scores Rise Statewide
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Michigan launches its most comprehensive literacy reform in decades with $87 million flowing to 561 school districts, as new state assessment results show encouraging improvement in five of seven English language arts grade levels. The historic investment combines evidence-based materials, teacher training, and intervention programs just as districts implement new science-of-reading mandates designed to transform reading instruction statewide.
TL;DR
Michigan invests $87 million across 561 school districts for literacy improvement.
Students show improvement in 5 of 7 English language arts grade levels.
Districts receive evidence-based materials, interventions, and teacher training.
Third-grade reading proficiency remains concerning at 38.9% statewide.
Competitive $10 million grants support innovative literacy approaches.
Historic legislation requires science-of-reading implementation by 2027-28.
Program represents largest literacy reform effort in Michigan's recent history.
Massive Implementation Underway
The Section 35m funding represents the largest single literacy investment in Michigan’s recent history, reaching 561 local and intermediate school districts statewide. Districts must submit their implementation budgets by September 19, 2025, to receive October funding payments, creating an urgent timeline for deploying evidence-based materials and training programs. The funding targets three critical areas: early literacy tier-one materials receiving a $30,000 base allocation plus approximately $89 per pupil, intervention materials getting $10,000 base plus $13 per pupil, and professional development programs allocated $1,500 base plus $2 per pupil. These formula-based grants ensure every participating district receives substantial support tailored to their student population.
While the overall trajectory points toward recovery, the data reveals persistent challenges in early elementary grades that require immediate attention. Third-grade English language arts proficiency remained at 38.9%, with an additional 24.6% scoring as partially proficient. Fourth-grade reading scores also showed continued weakness, highlighting the critical importance of the literacy investments now being deployed. However, grades 5-7 demonstrated the highest ELA proficiency rates recorded in the past three years, suggesting that targeted interventions and improved instruction are beginning to impact student outcomes. Math proficiency showed similar patterns, with five of seven grade levels improving and grades 4-7 achieving their highest scores in three years.
Author Quote"
Michigan’s systematic approach—combining substantial base funding with competitive innovation grants—creates a comprehensive model for addressing literacy challenges that other states are watching closely.
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Innovation Grants Add Competitive Edge
Complementing the base funding, Michigan is simultaneously deploying $10 million in competitive READ Innovation Grants designed to identify and scale breakthrough literacy approaches. The program received 115 applications from districts statewide, with 39 advancing to the next phase of competition. The three-year competitive structure provides initial implementation funding of up to $187,500 for selected districts in 2025-26, with six finalists receiving $375,000 in expansion funding for 2026-27. The program culminates with $500,000 incentive awards for the two districts—one elementary, one secondary—demonstrating the greatest student achievement impact. This innovation approach represents a departure from traditional funding models, creating incentives for districts to develop replicable solutions that can benefit schools throughout Michigan and potentially serve as models for other states grappling with literacy challenges. The emphasis on science-of-reading approaches positions Michigan as a significant testing ground for systematic literacy reform.
Key Takeaways:
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$87 million investment: Historic funding reaches 561 Michigan school districts for evidence-based literacy materials, interventions, and professional development
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Assessment improvements: Students showed gains in 5 of 7 ELA grade levels and 14 of 20 total tests, with grades 5-7 achieving highest scores in three years
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$10 million innovation grants: Competitive READ grants support 39 districts developing scalable literacy innovations with potential $500,000 awards
Replication Potential and National Implications
Michigan’s comprehensive approach—combining substantial formula funding, competitive innovation grants, and legislative mandates—offers a potential model for other states struggling with literacy achievement. The three-tiered implementation strategy provides immediate support while building long-term capacity for sustained improvement. The emphasis on evidence-based materials, aligned with the growing national focus on science-of-reading approaches, positions Michigan as a significant testing ground for systematic literacy reform. Other states are closely watching the results to inform their own policy decisions. As districts finalize their budgets and begin implementation, the true test of Michigan’s literacy investments will unfold in classrooms across the state. With 561 districts participating and over $97 million in combined funding deployed, the initiative represents one of the most comprehensive literacy reform efforts in the nation. Success will ultimately be measured not just in test scores but in the number of Michigan children who master reading skills essential for lifelong learning and success. The state’s educators, students, and families are positioned to benefit from the most significant literacy investment in decades, supported by comprehensive literacy training and evidence-based interventions.
Author Quote"
The emphasis on evidence-based materials aligned with science-of-reading research represents a fundamental shift from the curriculum fragmentation that undermined consistent instruction across the state.
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Michigan’s literacy transformation demonstrates how systematic investment in evidence-based approaches can yield measurable improvements, even in the face of persistent achievement gaps. The combination of substantial base funding, competitive innovation incentives, and legislative mandates creates a comprehensive model that addresses both immediate needs and long-term capacity building. While third and fourth-grade proficiency remains concerning, the upward trajectory in higher grades suggests that sustained commitment to science-of-reading principles can deliver results. For educators and administrators seeking to understand how large-scale literacy reform can be implemented effectively, Michigan’s experience offers valuable lessons in policy alignment, resource allocation, and the importance of maintaining focus on evidence-based practices. For more insights on educational innovation and implementation strategies, explore our All Access Program.
