Legislation addresses literacy, dyslexia services, and continuing education for teachers

State Rep. Nancy DeBoer today led the House Education and Workforce Committee’s consideration of key legislation – House Bills 5081, 5646, and 5697 – aimed at boosting literacy scores, ensuring access to dyslexia services for impacted students, and expanding teacher preparedness to address Michigan’s literacy crisis.

“By addressing literacy in Michigan, we’re uplifting our kids and educators and taking real steps to improve educational outcomes,” said DeBoer, R-Holland. “The path forward is very similar to how we teach struggling kids. We can’t learn everything overnight just like we can’t improve our national education ranking as fast as we’d like. That doesn’t mean we throw our hands up and give up; we buckle down, study our material, and do everything we can to improve results. With dedication and collaboration, together we can better teach and prepare our kids.

“Kids need to learn to read and teachers need to have every resource they need to help make that happen. The legislation we’re working on would ensure students struggling with dyslexia have a trusted advisor who is trained in the methods needed for success. Our complete embrace of the science of reading in the way we train teachers ensures that Michigan educators have the most proven methods of teaching literacy.”

HB 5081, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Scmaltz (R-Jackson), expands resources for dyslexic students by requiring public schools to employ at least one teacher who has received training in the evidence-based Orton-Gillingham teaching method for students struggling with dyslexia.

HB 5646, sponsored by Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Township), requires teacher preparation programs to include science of reading training, equipping teachers with additional resources to better address Michigan’s ongoing literacy crisis. HB 5697, sponsored by DeBoer, requires that all kindergarten through fifth grade public school teachers receive science of reading training, by the 2030-31 school year.

The legislation was approved by the House Education and Workforce Committee and sent to the House floor for further consideration.

###