In a recent government meeting, Michigan lawmakers, including Senator Pol Hanke, emphasized the urgent need for legislative reforms aimed at improving literacy rates in the state. Highlighting the alarming statistic that one in five children in Michigan exhibits characteristics of dyslexia, the senators underscored the critical importance of foundational reading skills, particularly phonics, in preventing students from falling behind.

The proposed legislation seeks to enhance the current framework established by the \"read by grade 3\" law enacted in 2016, which mandates regular assessments of reading skills for students from kindergarten through third grade. The new bills aim to refine these assessments to ensure they effectively measure phonics mastery and decoding abilities, thereby identifying students who require additional support early on.

Senator Hanke outlined three main components of the legislation: modifications to student assessments, targeted interventions for struggling readers, and improved training for educators. The bills call for the Michigan Department of Education to update its list of approved benchmark assessments to include measures of foundational reading skills. Additionally, they stipulate that when assessments reveal a student is struggling, teachers must implement a multi-tiered system of support, utilizing proven methods to enhance phonemic awareness.

Senator Hanke also highlighted the importance of teacher preparation programs, with Senate Bill 568 setting standards to equip educators with the necessary tools to assist students with dyslexia and decoding challenges. The senators expressed their commitment to weaving the science of reading into early literacy education, aiming to bolster the state's overall literacy outcomes and ensure that no child is left behind in their reading journey.