LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Fifty-one school districts across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will share $2,498,272 in new state funding aimed at improving early literacy, part of the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) $87 million statewide grant program.
The funding is provided through Section 35m of the School Aid Act, under Michigan’s new literacy and dyslexia law, Public Act 146 of 2024. Grants can be used for high-quality classroom materials, targeted literacy interventions, and teacher training, all from an MDE-approved list of research-backed resources.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice commended U.P. districts for investing in proven reading supports and called on lawmakers to double the funding in next year’s budget. “The more we invest in literacy early, the greater the returns for students throughout their academic careers,” Rice said.
Upper Peninsula recipients range from small rural districts to larger regional systems. The literacy law requires K–3 students to be screened three times each year for signs of dyslexia, with mandatory evidence-based interventions for those who need extra support. MDE says the grants will help districts meet these requirements while improving reading proficiency across the state.
You can view the full list here: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Links/2025/08/24-25-Section-35m-Grantees_Programs_Amounts.pdf
