• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says literacy is her top priority
• She is proposing more literacy funding and has created a literacy council
• Critics say she can do more 

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In a packed auditorium on a cold day in December, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said literacy would be her top priority in her last year. 

Now, as students break for the summer and we’re halfway through that last year, Bridge Michigan is taking a look at what progress Whitmer has made on literacy since December and what remains to be done — either during the term-limited governor’s last seven months in office or by her successor.

As Bridge has reported, leaders are spending big on efforts to improve learning, but student scores are poor. Leaders passed bipartisan legislation in 2024 that requires schools to use “evidence-based” methods to teach reading and also requires them to screen students for traits of dyslexia. Some requirements don’t take effect until the 2027-2028 school year, after Whitmer leaves office. Republican-led efforts to push up the timeline have not been successful.

Michigan spring 2025 test scores are expected to be released by late summer. 

Whitmer’s actions so far this year have largely consisted of budgetary proposals, such as directing more funds toward literacy training for teachers and toward purchasing new literacy instruction materials. Whitmer also created a literacy council, and in 2025, appointed a literacy adviser.

But is that enough? Some say Whitmer is doing what she can, raising the issue in public speeches and requesting more literacy spending in the next budget. Others say she can do more and, specifically, they criticize Democrats for repealing a law that required struggling third graders to repeat the grade. 

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Whitmer’s office did not make state literacy director Michelle Richard available for an interview, but the administration provided a general statement in response to written questions from Bridge. Bridge asked the governor’s office what Whitmer considers her top achievement on improving student literacy, how her office is defining success for ensuring “every child reads” and how the new senior literacy adviser role has informed the state’s goals and progress. 

“Whitmer believes every child deserves a strong foundation,” said Whitmer spokesperson Stacey LaRouche. “That’s why the governor set a clear goal for Michigan: Every Child Reads. We’re supporting healthy early development by expanding PreK for All, ensuring students arrive at kindergarten ready to learn at grade level, implementing proven science of reading methods such as phonics and LETRS training, tripling the number of literacy coaches, and providing extra support to students who need it.”

Here’s what to know. 

Initiative: More money for teacher training, vetted curricula
Where it stands: In budget negotiations 

Whitmer’s budget proposal includes more money for teacher training, literacy curricula, literacy coaches and new tutoring efforts. She contends her proposal puts “$625 million to support student literacy and achievement, the largest one-time literacy investment ever…”

One area that has bipartisan support: training more teachers on the ‘science of reading.’

So far, Michigan has dedicated $44 million toward implementing a training program called Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). Budget proposals from the governor and both chambers of the Legislature include funding for the program. State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko supports making the training mandatory for some teachers. 

On Wednesday, lawmakers are expected to discuss a bill that would require teachers to take the training. How much money would go toward the training and what, if any, financial incentives the state would offer, is not yet clear. Still, Whitmer got praise from some for her efforts on this. 

“It’s very much a cross-partisan goal, and I think her leadership there is important,” said Venessa Keesler, president and CEO of Launch Michigan, an education reform group. 

As for improving literacy curricula, Michigan school districts select or develop their own instructional material, but the state doles out grant funds to encourage districts to pick from a state-vetted list. 

Senate Education Chair Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, is sponsoring a bill that would require school districts to adopt a curriculum from a state list. The House has a similar piece of legislation. 

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Initiative: More money for pre-K
Where it stands: In budget negotiations 

In her February State of the State Address, Whitmer called for the state to fund universal pre-K for 4-year-olds.

Michigan 4-year-olds already can attend a Great Start Readiness Program pre-K class tuition-free but availability of programs varies by area.

More than 55,000 students are enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Program and Whitmer is seeking $181.1 million to expand programming to 68,000 children.

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Initiative: New literacy council 
Where it stands: Established by executive order in May 2026

Whitmer launched an Every Child Reads campaign and created a literacy council aimed at keeping the momentum going with literacy after she leaves office. 

Members will serve four-year terms, promote the state’s literacy efforts, identify ways to improve the state’s plan and provide input on a new dashboard about literacy outcomes. 

“Michigan finally has a strategy; informed by good data and bipartisan buy-in. It’s understandable but when we’re talking about our kids, we want immediate results. But literacy is a marathon, it’s not a miracle. We’ve got to stay committed in order to be successful, Whitmer said in a speech at the Mackinac Policy Conference in May. 

Whitmer’s reading council replaces another group that had previously aimed to improve literacy outcomes. That group had conversations of a similar theme in 2017 about what Michigan could learn from other top performing states. 

How does it feel to be having the same conversations or to see the low literacy scores? 

“Extremely frustrating,” said former Rep. Amanda Price, R-Holland, architect of the third grade reading law.

“Agonizing,” said former Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor, an education consultant and partner at 1837 Partners.

Naomi Norman, superintendent of Washtenaw Intermediate School District, and former chair of the previous commission, said the new group is the right step forward. 

Norman wants to see schools use kindergarten readiness assessments so leaders know where students are starting. Plus, she wants the state to look deeply at student attendance and develop specific ways to measure progress toward improving literacy. 

Some critics say Whitmer hasn’t done enough 

Some Republicans have pushed for a return to a state requirement to hold struggling third graders back including former Speaker of the House Jase Bolger. 

“What we have seen, I fear, is lip service. We’ve certainly seen more money, in fact a billion dollars more, but spending more isn’t caring more,” said Bolger, the CEO and president of the West Michigan Policy Forum. “And it’s proven that it certainly isn’t more effective.”

The Michigan policy was only in effect for a few years before Democrats repealed it in 2023, saying it was punitive and inequitable.

Republicans often reference Mississippi, whose fourth grade reading rankings have grown in the last two decades while Michigan’s has fallen. The southern state has a third-grade retention law.

Last week, the Michigan House Republicans advanced a bill that would bring back third grade retention requirements, skipping the step of a committee hearing. Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, called the effort “a gimmick” and Polehanki said “as long as I have a say, it will not be reversed.”

But Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Saginaw, supports bringing retention back. 

“I think she could speak every day about literacy, and I think that would be helpful but if all you’re saying is just throwing more money at it, without any accountability, you’re not going to get anywhere,” said Kelly. 

Doug Pratt of the Michigan Education Association sees it differently : “There’s plenty of accountability. There’s the tests, there’s the simple fact that we’re out there talking about these rankings.” 

Research on student retention is mixed. A study of Michigan third graders found that students who scored just below the cutoff and were flagged for retention scored higher on tests a year later than students who scored just above the cutoff.

Others say Michigan’s literacy problems are bigger than the governor 

Katherine McPhee, former education policy adviser to Gov. Rick Snyder, said it’s tough to make systemic change when there are roughly 800 local districts, intermediate districts and charter schools who each have their own programs. Local control can become “a little bit of a safe haven from accountability.”

“If the buck stops at 800 doorsteps, it’s really hard to make the kinds of changes you need that would have a significant impact on our kids’ performance.”

Will these literacy efforts continue after Whitmer? 

“Like many other states that have had to rescue public education from decades of neglect, it will likely take time to see the full effects of our policies reflected in things like our scores,” said Polehanki.

Michigan is a swing state, “and when we swing, sometimes the policy swings,” said Irwin. 

At Alpena Public Schools, Superintendent Dave Rabbideau sees that. 

“The biggest difference I see between Mississippi and Michigan is the state stuck to a plan,” said Rabbideau. “They put it in place. And as people were elected and moved out of office, they kept going on that same pathway at the state level.” 

Will this time around be any different? 

“It’s hard to really give an honest assessment of if it’s for real this time, but I hope it is.”

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