Let Michigan make its own miracle with Every Child READS
One seems hard-pressed these days to find a person who has not heard the story of Michigan’s student performance when it comes to literacy… Michigan ranks 44th in the nation on fourth-grade reading. Only 4 in 10 fourth graders read at grade level. Fewer than 1 in 5 13-year-olds read for fun while 80 percent of teenagers use social media daily…
These sad facts often overshadow more encouraging news: Michigan is poised to raise its literacy rigor and make a significant difference in the lives of its preK-12 students. While some boast of the Mississippi Miracle of literacy improvement, many are not aware that Michigan’s stage was set in 2016 for a similar outcome: that all students could learn to read by middle elementary and use that skill to succeed in grades beyond.
The biggest difference is Mississippi’s use of mandates for its activities to ensure implementation statewide while Michigan provides direction from the state education department without authority sufficient to ensure complete and consistent implementation statewide.
While both states have made significant investments in early childhood education and literacy instruction, including evidence-based, Science of Reading teacher training, Mississippi succeeded in fostering a statewide campaign that included partners from across the state and was able to focus more quickly on requiring districts to use proven evidence-based curricula and training.
But we have all the ingredients necessary for our own miracle. We just need to do them faster, with greater focus, and without getting distracted by new silver-bullet solutions or old debates about failed policies.
Launch Michigan, a cross-partisan, nonprofit organization of education, business, labor and philanthropic leaders, started to build a similar statewide coalition to improve education more than eight years ago. It is Launch’s belief that, with a laser focus on the literacy improvement course identified in recent legislation and a strong grassroots commitment from its citizens, Michigan can fully implement an evidence-based, effective system to ensure that all students can read. We simply need to continue adding more people to the table in a model of reciprocal accountability, where all Michiganders come together: educators, students, parents, community and business leaders, policymakers, higher education – all citizens must come together to be a part of the solution.
In Fall 2025, after convening with literacy experts across the state and nation, Launch Michigan released its Every Child READS initiative.
Right curriculum: Adopt K–5 evidence-based curricula grounded in the science of reading, right now, without waiting to be told by the state.
Every Educator Trained: Ensure 100% of K–5 educators are trained in evidence-based practices.
Assessment: Use validated, high-quality literacy assessments to identify student needs early.
Data Use: Apply literacy data to target supports and track progress statewide.
Systems: Embed literacy goals into district improvement plans (MICIP) and engage administrators in professional learning.
Launch Michigan is committed to keeping the state laser-focused on the right moves to ensure every child can read. The science is clear on what works; we just need to do it and do it as soon as possible. That’s why we are raising the importance of R (Right Curriculum) and E (Every Educator Trained). Michigan students will not see the success we all want for them until every district uses a Science of Reading-based curriculum and every educator is trained and supported. We need to hold ourselves accountable as a state to make sure those two things happen right now.
We are encouraged by the Governor’s continued and historic investments in literacy, recently announced in her executive recommendation. Launch Michigan stands by this budget recommendation. We encourage all citizens to reach out to their lawmakers to show their support for these investments that will let Michigan make its own miracle – ensuring Every Child READS.
