Michigan

The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.

Updated 2025

Local control?

Yes

Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the science of reading?

Yes. MCL 380.1280f, commonly referred to as Public Act (PA 146/247), 2024 is our K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law. Information about the Law is located here: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/academic-standards/literacy/k-12-literacy-and-dyslexia-laws

Does your state have an approved curriculum list?

Section 35m of the FY 2025 State School Aid Act provides $87,000,000 to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to create a Committee for Literacy Achievement and allocate funding based on a rankings list of materials. The Committee for Literacy Achievement will critically evaluate literacy series and materials, literacy professional development, and literacy tools or services. The Committee for Literacy Achievement will also create and maintain a rankings list for all literacy items the Committee has evaluated. Once lists are established, districts will apply for funding based on the rankings list of literacy items (e.g., literacy series, materials, professional development, tools, and services).

Tier 1 Elementary Literacy Materials and Series Request for Submission Process (RFS) was developed 

Section 35m Ranking List

PA 146 MCL 380.1280f (5) requires that by not later than January 1, 2026, the department shall publish a list of evidence-based Tier 1, class-wide elementary reading curricula and materials that are aligned with Science of Reading (SOR) methods that research has shown to improve literacy outcomes and help pupils achieve reading proficiency. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the instructional methods and curriculum resources described in this subsection must not include instructional methods or curriculum resources that minimize the importance of primarily using letter-sound information to decode or recognize unknown words, including, but not limited to, any of the uses of letter-sound information described in subsection (23)(c)(iii)(A) to (E), unless such instructional methods and curriculum resource are being used to confirm the meaning of unknown words after decoding has been attempted.

The Request for Submission Process has been released for the Tier 1 Class-Wide Elementary Reading Curricula and Materials

Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?

Yes. The Request for Submission process is a three-phase process. To be eligible for review, vendors must be able to answer the following:

As outlined by the Reading League Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines (2023), to what extent do the Tier 1, class-wide elementary reading curricula and materials that are aligned with Science of Reading (SOR) methods, which research has shown to improve literacy outcomes and help students achieve reading proficiency?

As outlined by EdReports Rubric Version 2.1 (2025), to what extent do the Tier 1 evidence-based class-wide elementary reading curricula and materials align with research on high-quality instructional materials? Are they designed to facilitate student learning and enhance teachers’ ability to differentiate instruction and build knowledge in the Classroom?

As outlined by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Tiers of Evidence, to what extent do the materials have a demonstrated history of improving student outcomes?

Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

The following memorandum provides links and guidance for reviewing, selecting, and implementing High-Quality Instructional Literacy Materials:

Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?

Yes. MCL 380.1280f(4) requires that by not later than January 1, 2026, the department shall provide a list of approved valid and reliable screening and progress monitoring reading assessments for selection and use by school districts and public school academies. (1) Subject to subsection (4) and subject to the availability of valid and reliable assessments, the department shall approve 3 or more valid and reliable screening and progress-monitoring assessments for selection and use by school districts and public school academies in accordance with the following: (i) Each approved assessment must provide a screening assessment and monitoring capabilities for monitoring progress toward a growth target.

Does your state have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices?

Yes- see link below. MTSS appears in several sections of state aid. The MiMTSS Technical Assistance Center provides professional learning, guidelines for MTSS implementation, and tools and resources that provide support for educators at the county, district, school, and individual educator levels.

The MiMTSS TA Center has 12 Literacy Dyslexia Consultants who are responsible for supporting the initial and ongoing legislative requirements. 

Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development

Yes, teachers, administrators, and literacy coaches have the opportunity to participate in LETRS training. Literacy grants are in place to provide funding for  literacy coaches .Recent legislation was passed to provide funding to districts and intermediate districts to improve literacy instructional practices by investing in quality, research-based best practices and professional learning (Section 35j, pg. 81).

MDE LETRS Cohort Website As part of Public Act 144 of 2022, the Michigan Department of Education is providing evidence-based literacy instruction focused on the science of reading at no cost to eligible educators and administrators.

Section 35m of the FY 2025 State School Aid Act provides $87,000,000 to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to create a Committee for Literacy Achievement and allocate funding based on a rankings list of materials. The Committee for Literacy Achievement will critically evaluate literacy series and materials, literacy professional development, and literacy tools or services. The Committee for Literacy Achievement will also create and maintain a rankings list for all literacy items the Committee has evaluated. Once lists are established, districts will apply for funding based on the rankings list of literacy items (e.g., literacy series, materials, professional development, tools, and services).

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?

Yes. In addition to the LETRS training described above, the Michigan Department of Education collaborated with the Michigan Association of Intermediate Administrators(MAISA) to provide a memorandum and brief emphasizing a call to action and highlighting the relationship between the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy (EIP) and the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS). The intention is to clarify how the two professional learning opportunities provide educators with a deeper and more comprehensive literacy learning experience to teach Michigan’s students. Memorandum and brief linked below:

Please describe any grant work that names the science of reading and/or evidence-aligned instruction including links, where applicable

Yes, please see the links below.

Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading?

No, however, the MiMTSS TA Center has a family engagement specialist who is developing resources and materials leveraging the Michigan Family Engagement Framework to focus on the reading, social, emotional, and behavioral components of an MTSS framework.

Do you have policy or guidance regarding how to leverage evidence-based practices to support secondary students?

The MDE Dylexia Handbook that supports the existing dyslexia bills spans through the adolescent literacy grades (4-12). Recommendations for screening and intervention, and intensifying instruction can be found in the MDE Dyslexia Handbook and the Intensifying Literacy Instruction: Essential Practices 

MIchigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators: Instructional Practices for Disciplinary Literacy in the Secondary Classroom: Grades 6 to 12

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading and Multilingual learners?

Yes. MDE partners with WIDA and has access to their learning modules MDE English Learners (ELs) Webpage

MDE Special Populations Unit (Michelle Williams, Manager) is working with the Literacy Unit, the director of the MiMTSS Technical Assistance Center, and national EL experts (Claude Goldenberg, Elsa Cardena-Hagan) to have additional modules that would ensure bilingualism is viewed from an asset-oriented perspective. In addition, additional instructional strategies will be supported and subsequently taught, to support teachers working with EL students how to successfully develop oral language and to teach children to read the English language. We have been successful thus far in avoiding the adaptive challenges of people believing the Science of Reading and teaching English Learners are incompatible. Quite the contrary. We are getting ahead of it with the help of Claude, Elsa and others.

Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?

MI does not have licensure or program approval to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading. However, Michigan has recently started a LETRS cohort designed for Michigan Institutes of Higher Education.

Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?

MDE Literacy Page: Literacy (michigan.gov)

Contact: MDE-EarlyLiteracy@michigan.gov

Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading

The Michigan Department of Education’s Diversity in Literature Symposium emphasizes the importance of the Science of Reading (the how) and opportunities for students to see themselves and others in diverse literature (the Why). Links to information about the 2023 Symposium can be found below, and the 2024 Symposium is scheduled for March 7, 2024.

Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.

Filter by specific topic area(s) to find state-specific work: 

The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.