Michigan is requiring all elementary school teachers to undergo intensive training in the "science of reading" to combat a decade-long drop in student literacy. By the start of the 2031-32 school year, every K-5 public school educator in the state must complete professional development focused on explicit, evidence-based reading instruction. This mandate comes as state reading test scores hit historic lows, prompting a bipartisan push to change classroom teaching.
What Happened
Statewide reading performance in Michigan has declined for over a decade. According to the latest state exam results, only 38.2% of Michigan third graders scored proficient on the English language arts portion of the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) in 2026. In 2015, 50% of third graders met that standard.
In response, Michigan lawmakers are changing how they address early literacy. Instead of penalizing struggling students, the state is targeting how teachers are trained. In 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill that repealed the strict third-grade retention requirement. That rule previously forced schools to hold back students who failed the state reading exam.
Now, the focus is on instruction. Under the new mandate, all K-5 public school teachers must complete approved training in the science of reading by 2031. More than 8,000 Michigan educators have completed Lexia's LETRS training, which is one of the state’s approved programs, and another 4,300 are currently enrolled.
The Bigger Picture
The science of reading is not a single curriculum. It is a body of cognitive research that explains how the human brain learns to read. This method relies on structured instruction in five areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Using this research-backed approach has shown results. A 2026 study found that Michigan's early literacy policies increased overall third-grade reading achievement by 8.7% of a standard deviation. This indicates that systematic reform works even without the threat of retaining students. Data released by Lexia also shows that students using Lexia Core5 Reading scored higher when taught by LETRS-trained educators.
However, experts warn that training alone is not enough. Research from Project ECHO Literacy shows that one-off professional development sessions rarely change daily classroom habits unless teachers receive regular support. If school districts do not pair these courses with continuous mentoring, the state's investment may not lead to better student performance.
What This Means for Families
For parents, this policy change means a different approach to classroom reading lessons. Many veteran teachers report that their college programs did not teach them how to systematically teach phonics. This mandate aims to address those gaps so teachers use structured, step-by-step methods instead of letting students guess words.
Families will also face less anxiety over high-stakes tests. Because the state no longer holds children back based solely on third-grade M-STEP scores, schools can focus on early testing and intervention. If your child struggles, the law now directs schools to provide targeted support instead of keeping them back a grade.
What You Can Do
Parents can take action by asking school principals if their child's teachers have already enrolled in or completed the state-funded LETRS professional development. You can also ask how your district's reading curriculum aligns with the five pillars of literacy, focusing specifically on systematic phonics and phonemic awareness. Finally, work with your child's teacher to ensure that home reading activities reinforce classroom lessons. If you use educational software at home, verify that those reading apps and digital tools support phonics rather than encouraging visual guessing.