A bill from state Rep. Rylee Linting within a series of reforms aimed at improving reading proficiency for kids and strengthening literacy instruction across Michigan’s education system was advanced this week by the Michigan House with bipartisan support.

According to rankings from the Kids Count Databook and EdTrust-Midwest, Michigan is 44^th among states in education. In addition, Michigan’s fourth grade and eighth grade reading scores declined by nine points from 2019 to 2024, and third grade reading proficiency has dropped by nearly 12 percent since 2015.

“Our state has spent over $900 million on literacy programs the last decade,” said Linting, of Wyandotte. “Our education crisis has not originated from a funding problem. It’s a policy problem.”

Linting has pushed for reforms to address these issues. Last year, the Michigan House voted in bipartisan fashion for her bill strengthening core standards for reading and writing. The plan, which provided key updates to support students and help guide public schools to ensure that recommended core academic curriculum content standards for reading and writing for grades K-6 are based on the science of reading, was incorporated into proposals signed into law by the governor.

Linting’s House Bill 5821 will require schools to use approved science of reading curriculums and materials starting in the 2027-28 school year. The bill also caps the approved science of reading curriculums and materials list at 15. Corresponding plans that were voted on in the House this week would move the effective date for other changes from July 1, 2027, to July 1 of this year – streamlining this transition so kids don’t continue to fall through the cracks – while also adjusting timelines for teacher preparation programs. The reforms will ensure alignment across Michigan to improve consistency and quality so kids in every corner of the state are in position to succeed.

During the 2022-23 school year, elementary schools in Michigan were using 444 different English Language Arts curriculum resources, many of which had never been formally vetted.

“We’ve agreed this is a better way forward. Results from other states have shown this system gives teachers the tools they need and increases reading scores. These plans move these changes forward so we can start seeing better scores and better results for our students,” Linting said.

House Bills 5819-21 now move to the Senate for consideration.