Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter
The Michigan State Board of Education passed a resolution, 7-1, Tuesday recommending that all K–5 educators in the state be required to complete LETRS training — Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling — within a reasonable timeframe. The resolution also calls for distributing free books to promote literacy among young students.
Republican Tom McMillin was the sole dissenting vote. He questioned whether mandating a specific training program that financially benefits one company is legally permissible.
“I don’t know if this passes constitutional muster so that one company can make all kinds of money,” McMillin said.
The resolution aligns with a set of four recommendations presented by Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Assistant Superintendent Delsa Chapman. These recommendations are aimed at expanding access to research-based literacy instruction and improving student outcomes.
Alongside mandatory LETRS training, Chapman proposed lowering class sizes in high-poverty classrooms in grades K–3. She also recommended that the state double the $87 million in one-time literacy funding that was distributed to 561 districts through grants. Board members agreed that the current funding level is not enough to reach all students who need support.
Chapman’s final recommendation focused on increasing in-person instructional time. According to data shared at the meeting, although Michigan schools are scheduled for 180 instructional days, actual in-person learning is significantly reduced by up to nine snow days, seven professional development days, and 15 days of virtual instruction—bringing the total down to as few as 149 in-person days for some students.
Board members noted that both the House and Senate versions of the proposed 2026 state budget would reduce the number of allowable virtual learning days to seven, a change from the 15 days allowed under 2023 rules. Several board members said they would prefer to see that number reduced to zero, arguing that students benefit most from face-to-face instruction.
“We need to be focused on the children,” said board member Tiffany Tilley, who added that, at the current pace, it would take about five years to provide LETRS training to all of Michigan’s nearly 90,000 educators. So far, only about 5,000 teachers have completed the training, despite the Legislature already allocating funds to support it.
Chapman closed the discussion by emphasizing the urgency behind these changes.
“Time is important,” she said.
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