Michigan
Whitmer says tackling Michigan’s literacy crisis will be top 2026 goal
Governor Whitmer speaks on the opening of Nick Gilbert Means in Detroit
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer mentioned she is proud that “individuals are beginning to see Detroit for what it truly is: the very best rattling story in America.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer sounded the alarm about Michigan’s literacy disaster throughout a speech, saying addressing it could be her high objective as she enters her ultimate yr in workplace.
“Within the 12 months I’ve left as governor, literacy will stay my primary precedence,” she mentioned in a Dec. 15 speech closing a Michigan Literacy Summit on the Michigan Science Heart.
Nobody individual or celebration bears the blame for Michigan college students’ studying efficiency, Whitmer mentioned, however she instructed the viewers of schooling leaders and authorities officers that fixing it would require working collectively. “Literacy shouldn’t be a partisan concern. It isn’t only a public sector concern. It is an all-hands-on-deck disaster,” she mentioned.
Too many college students cannot learn at grade stage, she mentioned. That is an issue for Michigan, mentioned Whitmer, who referred to as literacy “a cornerstone of each state’s success.”
Third grade M-STEP studying scores – third grade is usually seen as a vital turning level in studying to learn – have fallen virtually yearly for the previous decade. Exams administered within the spring of 2025 confirmed that greater than 60% of third graders didn’t rating proficient on the take a look at: 38.9% scored proficient or superior on the assessments taken within the spring, in comparison with 39.6% in 2024.
Whitmer blamed disinvestment, altering schooling coverage objectives, the COVID-19 pandemic and addictive know-how competing for college kids’ consideration.
State policymakers have launched a marketing campaign to reverse the decline. Whitmer signed laws in 2024 to strengthen literacy schooling, aimed toward higher figuring out college students with dyslexia and aligning schooling with the science of studying, the physique of analysis that reveals how youngsters be taught to learn. Whitmer defended this coverage and others, similar to free preschool, as essential schooling measures.
However she referred to as for extra steps, together with funding for native libraries, further assist for households, coaching assist for lecturers and extra assist for college kids who want essentially the most assist. Though she didn’t elaborate, she promised to elaborate on her proposals in her State of the State deal with and price range proposal subsequent yr.
Whitmer’s name to motion on literacy comes at a time when partisan resentment in Lansing has reached a fever pitch after Republicans within the Home of Representatives took the unprecedented step of voting towards transferring greater than $645 million in unspent funds from the earlier state price range authored by Democrats.
In the meantime, after a yr of urging lawmakers in Michigan’s divided Legislature to work collectively, Whitmer seems to be falling brief. As a part of the state price range deal, legislative leaders struck an settlement with Whitmer to move financial growth laws earlier than the top of the yr, based on a press release from the governor’s workplace. However the clock is ticking and it is unclear whether or not lawmakers will make good on that promise.
But in her literacy speech, Whitmer repeated the favourite chorus that “in Michigan we will do onerous issues.”
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com.