LANSING – As Michigan works to improve reading outcomes for all children and celebrates March is Reading Month, State Board of Education members learned more today about how implementing the state’s 2024 literacy and dyslexia laws is putting Students First.
Michigan Department of Education (MDE) staff during the board meeting shared progress on approval of a list of assessments to screen and monitor the progress of children who need extra support in learning to read. MDE staff also provided updates on approval of a list of evidence-based literacy curricula for Michigan schools to use and spotlighted collaborative efforts to support improved teacher preparation in literacy instruction.
“We put Students First when we use proven methods to identify children who need extra help learning to read and ensure that schools are using evidence-based curricula to teach young Michiganders literacy skills,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “Improving literacy is our top priority. That’s why Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Every Child Reads investments in her proposed budget are so important. I will continue to collaborate with her and legislators to improve student literacy, just as the department worked to gain approval of the 2024 laws that are making a difference.”
Improving early literacy achievement is Goal 2 in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.
Screening Student Literacy and Approving Reading Curricula List
Presenters at the meeting shared the timeline for a continued request for submission process, until September 2026, with periodic reviews and updates to the current initial list of approved valid and reliable screening and progress monitoring reading assessments and elementary reading curricula list.
“We want to provide additional opportunities for our partners to meet the criteria of Michigan’s K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia laws so that we can maximize valid and reliable literacy assessment options for Michigan’s educators to meet the needs of their students,” said DeNesha Rawls-Smith, education consultant manager for the Literacy Unit within the MDE Office of Curriculum and Instruction…
