By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association

Improving student literacy here in Michigan promises to be a major topic throughout 2026, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer committing to it as a top issue for her final year in office, as noted in her final State of the State address last week.

Whether a student is a struggling or an outstanding reader, we have an obligation to improve every student’s literacy skills — no matter their ZIP code or family’s income — so they can build the reading skills necessary to succeed and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

In addition to teaching our kids how to read, we must also band together to instill a love of reading among our children. After all, we’re bringing up Michigan’s next leaders and doers — not only should they know how to read, they should want to read.

Improving literacy among Michigan students is also critical to our state’s economic future; a well-educated and highly skilled workforce is the number one factor in attracting good jobs and investments. Investing in literacy programs will pay dividends for Michigan, better positioning us to compete for the jobs of the future and boost our local economies.

While literacy struggles are an issue nationwide, Michigan has already taken important action with a new reading law that emphasizes research-based instructional practices rather than test-and-punish models, such as third-grade retention.

The next step is in the governor’s 2026-27 budget proposal, which calls for a $625 million investment to support student literacy and achievement — a nearly $400 million increase. This will help schools adopt research-proven curricula, instructional methods and support for struggling readers, grounded in the science of reading.

It’s important to note that success in these efforts will depend on consistency, resources, and dedication.

Nothing is more important to students’ success than the teaching and support provided by qualified, caring educators who work with them every day. Great educators who are well-trained and fully resourced can help every student fulfill their full potential.

However, frequent changes in mandates and approaches over the years have undermined both educators’ and students’ ability to achieve long-term gains. Experts agree that we need to stick to a plan for years to achieve the student outcomes we desire — not bounce from one idea to another.

From there, educators need high-quality training in evidence-based instructional practices and the tools needed to do their jobs and provide individual attention to each and every student. The governor’s budget proposal makes major investments in those key areas.

Experience has shown that improving literacy is a long-term process. The path to success lies in providing educators with the proper levels of support, consistency, resources and time to implement proven literacy programs for this generation of students and beyond.

Gov. Whitmer said it best in her State of the State remarks when talking about other states’ success with similar approaches to improving student literacy: “These weren’t miracles — they were marathons; the result of years of hard work and commitment to the plan.”

As educators, we are ready to lead on literacy. Equipped with the right training and tools, dedicated teachers and support staff will make a big difference for student literacy — so long as we stay committed over time to a consistent, rigorous approach to this critical work. Whether a student is already an excellent reader or needs additional support, we can help every student meet their potential.

On behalf of teachers and school support staff throughout Michigan, MEA is excited to partner with the governor and state and local leaders from both parties on this effort to help every student improve their reading skills.