Michigan Mandates Literacy Training for K–5 Teachers

Michigan elementary teachers will be required to complete literacy training grounded in the “science of reading” under a new law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The requirement must be fully implemented by the 2031–2032 school year.

The law applies to kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers who teach reading or language arts. Teachers holding an interim teaching certificate are exempt from the requirement. The mandate will only take effect if the Legislature provides sufficient funding.

Under the legislation, the Michigan Department of Education must select at least two vendors each year to provide the approved training programs. While the law does not name a specific provider, state leaders have publicly referenced LETRS, a literacy training program offered by Lexia, as a model aligned with the law’s goals.

The training focuses on research-based methods commonly referred to as the “science of reading.” These approaches emphasize how children learn to read, often incorporating structured phonics instruction along with vocabulary, fluency and comprehension strategies.

State officials have described literacy improvement as an urgent priority. According to state data, 38.9% of Michigan third graders, and 44.5% of Cedar Springs third graders, are currently proficient in reading. National assessments place Michigan 44th in fourth-grade reading performance compared to other states.

The new law builds on earlier reforms that required districts to adopt evidence-based literacy instruction and begin screening students for dyslexia starting in the 2027–28 school year. However, the latest legislation goes further by specifying mandatory teacher training requirements.

Whitmer signed the measure alongside House Bill 5646, which ties approval of teacher preparation programs and teacher certification standards to meeting literacy-focused criteria. The legislation is intended to align classroom instruction, teacher preparation and certification requirements around consistent reading practices.

At an event in Southfield promoting the new education budget, Whitmer said improving literacy will require sustained effort.

“We all want results for our kids,” Whitmer said. “And none of us is patient about it, nor should we be. We want those results fast. But here’s what we know: literacy is a marathon, it’s not a miracle. The steps we’re taking now are the first steps down a road ahead. It will take time, but if we give every child a strong early start, using proven methods, offering extra help, we can ensure that every child can read.”

Michigan has already invested $44 million in LETRS training. The newly approved state education budget includes an additional $75 million designated specifically for LETRS. The training program typically takes about two years to complete.

As of July 1, 5,684 educators were participating in LETRS training and 7,460 had completed the program, according to state figures.

The state has also directed funding toward literacy coaches, approved curricula, instructional materials, student support resources and expanded access to pre-kindergarten programs.

State leaders say the coordinated effort is designed to improve early reading outcomes over time, with the long-term goal of increasing literacy proficiency across Michigan’s elementary schools.