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July 23, 2025
LANSING—More than 550 local and intermediate school districts applied for and will each receive a share of an $87 million appropriation in the fiscal year 2025 state budget to fund high-quality, whole classroom literacy materials, literacy interventions, or literacy professional development selected from a menu of resources approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
As part of the state School Aid Act budget for fiscal year 2025, the state legislature provided local and intermediate school districts with formula-grant funding to select high-quality literacy materials and resources from a rankings list based on the materials’ demonstrated history of increasing student outcomes, as recommended by the Committee for Literacy Achievement. The committee included representatives of higher education, early childhood literacy educators, practicing educators and administrators, and literacy and program evaluation experts.
Of Michigan’s 877 eligible local education agencies (or local school districts) and intermediate school districts (ISDs), 561—nearly two-thirds—applied and will be funded. The three categories of awards are: Early Literacy Tier 1 Materials (370 applicants), Early Literacy Interventions (63 applicants), and Professional Development (128 applicants). Local and intermediate school districts will be notified of their specific funding allocations in the coming weeks based on a base award and a per-pupil award as described in the grant requirements. MDE will distribute all of the $87 million appropriation.
“The large number of school districts that applied for funding underscores the need for high-quality, research-based Tier I literacy materials, interventions, and professional development,” State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice said. “To improve early literacy, Goal 2 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan, the state legislature needs to double this appropriation in the coming fiscal year, so that more districts can get an early start on implementation of Public Act 146 of 2024, generational reading legislation passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Whitmer last fall.”
Among the elements, the new law will require the department to create lists of benchmark assessments and screeners from which districts must choose. Districts will screen all students grades K-3 three times a year for characteristics of dyslexia and on an as-needed basis for students in grades 4-12. Districts will be required to use research-based interventions for those students found to have characteristics of dyslexia. The department will also develop research-based lists of Tier 1 materials, interventions, and professional development, as well as a coaching model for literacy coaches.
Additional funding would allow districts to apply for their first Section 35m grant, or for current applicants to apply again for another Section 35m category. For example, if a district was awarded funding to select materials from the Section 35m Tier 1 Early Literacy Materials and Series Rankings List, it could apply again for intervention materials, which would allow them to continue to build their research-based literacy program.
MDE announced in late May that local education agencies and ISDs could apply for funding, effective early June. The application deadline for the grant was July 11, 2025, after a six-week application window. The effort is managed by MDE’s Office of Educational Supports.
Local education agencies and ISDs selecting Early Literacy Tier 1 Materials from the rankings list will each receive a $30,000 base award, and an estimated $80 per pupil, with the final amount based on the number of awards for this category. Early Literacy Intervention Materials will be funded at a $10,000 base award and a $13 per pupil allocation. Professional development applicants will receive a $1,500 base award and $2 per pupil.
Sixty-four percent of Michigan districts applied for Section 35m grant funding, an indication of significant need for and interest in research-based materials and resources to increase student literacy levels.
Next steps include department allocation of funding and notification of awards and the budget process for each eligible applicant.
“We are excited about announcing this important update and look forward to building on our statewide literacy work in support of children,” said Dr. Delsa Chapman, deputy superintendent of the MDE Division of Assessment, School Improvement, and Systems Support.
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