Students from 537 Michigan Districts Will Benefit from $64.4M in Early Literacy Materials Grants

Michigan Department of Education Continues Momentum
 In Making Literacy Top Priority

LANSING – Students in 537 local and intermediate school districts in Michigan will benefit from $64.4 million to improve student literacy. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is announcing the districts to which it is awarding the literacy funding.

Details about the awardees can be found on the Michigan Department of Education website.

Awardees of new 2026 grants provided by the state legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will receive funding they can use for whole class or intervention literacy materials, professional learning for teachers, or literacy assessments that have been approved by the MDE Committee for Literacy Achievement. The newly awarded grants build on $87 million awarded for high-quality literacy materials in the 2025-26 school year.

“Literacy is the foundation of student success in school and life,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “With these grants, MDE continues to work with local schools, the State Board of Education, Gov. Whitmer and our partners in the Legislature to improve Michigan’s literacy achievement by providing students with classroom materials aligned with the Science of Reading and providing their teachers with evidence-based professional learning.”

The grants are provided under Section 35m of the 2026 State School Aid Act. The funding is an important part of supporting districts in implementing Michigan’s K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law, which is required to be completed by the 2027-28 school year. This law, which was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in October 2024, supports districts in building a comprehensive literacy system based on the Science of Reading. The law includes screening students for characteristics of dyslexia, evidence-based instructional methods for teaching reading and literacy professional learning for educators.

The Committee for Literacy Achievement has worked closely with the MDE Office of Curriculum and Instruction and includes representatives from institutes of higher education, early childhood education, literacy scholars, practitioners, educators and administrators, as well as staff from MDE and the Michigan Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Technical Assistance Center.

Pontiac School District is receiving a $377,077 grant.

"This grant is an exciting investment in our students, educators, and schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Leverette. “It allows us to continue building on the strong literacy initiatives already underway while giving students additional access to high-quality instructional materials and providing educators with the training and support necessary to thrive in their roles. We are grateful for this opportunity and for the continued investment in literacy across our district."

Sault Area Public Schools is receiving an $18,390 grant.

“The state’s literacy investment provides critical support for Sault Schools as we continue building a comprehensive literacy system grounded in the Science of Reading,” said Superintendent Dr. Amy Kronemeyer. “These additional funds, coupled with previous investments in high-impact instructional materials and training our educators in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), will support our staff with the assessment tools needed to identify student strengths and areas of need, focus intervention efforts, and ensure every learner develops the reading and writing skills needed for future success.”

The additional literacy funding this past year has allowed districts to apply for their first Section 35m grant, or for previous recipients to apply again to build toward an evidence-based system that supports strong literacy outcomes for students.

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