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Board hears literacy-implementation update and contentious debate over mandatory LETRS training and vendor influence
Summary
MDE told the board it had awarded Section 35m grants to 561 districts and advanced 39 Section 35n applicants; staff urged a mandatory LETRS training requirement and increased literacy funding while board members debated vendor influence, local control and program trade-offs.
The Michigan Department of Education briefed the State Board on implementation of Public Act 146 (K–12 literacy/dyslexia law) and related grants on Sept. 9, reporting award and timeline details and advancing legislative recommendations, including a proposal to make LETRS professional development mandatory for early-literacy educators.
Denisha Rawls Smith and literacy unit staff said MDE received 561 Section 35m applications and that every applying district was awarded funds: 370 awards for Tier 1 curriculum, 63 for intervention materials and 129 for professional development. Districts were notified of award amounts on Aug. 8, 2025; budgets are due Sept. 19 and payments are expected in October…
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