As part of the early July budget compromise, bills passed mandating K-5 educator science of reading training over the next five years (HB 5697), and a corresponding inclusion of those concepts in teacher preparation programs (HB 5646). 

Importantly, several key changes to the training bill were made in the State Senate, including:

• Requiring at least two different training providers to be chosen by MDE (not only LETRS, which has been getting the most attention).
• Requiring collaboration between the Michigan Department of Education and statewide associations (such as MEA) in implementing the program AND collaboration between districts and educators who are required to take the training.
• ​Clearly excluding non-reading teachers from the requirements.
• ​Tracking additional costs and funding sources for districts for this training, particularly any compensation for work beyond contracted hours.
• Allocating additional funding to help pay those costs — although the total amount of $75 million to pay for the training cost and additional compensation is likely not enough to fully cover the need. (Read more about the 2026-27 state education budget here.)
• MOST IMPORTANTLY, clearly stating that this law is subject to collective bargaining under the Public Employee Relations Act (PERA).

While this legislation likely needs continued modification and funding in coming years, it’s a far better bill than what was passed by the House earlier in the spring.

MEA is committed to working with our members, their districts, the state department and other organizations to improve student literacy — particularly by improving training and support for educators who are fairly compensated for any additional time required.

MEA is in contact with MDE to help answer key questions and shape implementation of these new requirements, both at the state level and locally through negotiations.  Stay tuned for more details — and read more about the efforts underway already by MEA members to Lead on Literacy.