Literacy Grants and Legislation
LETRS: Literacy Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling
LETRS Cohort 14 Open Enrollment
Join over 12,000 of your fellow educators in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training. Registration for Cohort 14 is open April 13, 2026 – August 30, 2026. Training for Cohort 14 will start in November 2026.
For more information, including registration links, eligibility requirements, and FAQs, please visit the Michigan LETRS website. If you have any questions regarding LETRS training, please contact MDE-LETRS@michigan.gov.
Section 35m Grant (FY 25)
Budgets Due!
Districts that submitted an initial application in NexSys for FY 25 Section 35m grant funds must submit a budget in NexSys for approval by one of the following dates to receive funds in the corresponding state aid payment:• Submit and approved by May 20th - June State Aid payment• Submit and approved by June 18th - June State Aid payment• Submit and approved by July 20th - June State Aid payment
There is no September State Aid payment, July 20th is the absolute latest a budget can be submitted for approval.
Please note: all Section 35m funds must be expended or returned by September 30, 2026. Section 35m does not allow for carryover of grant funds. Please refer to the Section 35m FAQs for more information.
Section 35m Grant (FY 26)
The Section 35m (FY 26) application will open in NexSys by the beginning of June 2026.
Districts can apply for funding from one of the following categories: Tier 1, Assessment, Intervention or Professional Development. The Evidence-based Tier-1, Class-wide Elementary Reading Curricula list released in December 2025 and assessments that were approved and included on the March 2026 K-3 Valid and Reliable Screening and Progress Monitoring Assessments List are eligible for Section 35m FY 26 funding . Any items added to either list during later review cycles, will not be eligible for Section 35m FY 26 funding.
More guidance and resources will be posted to the Section 35m grant webpage in the coming weeks.
K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law (PA 146)
Michigan's Assessment and Curricula Lists Are Available!
Visit our K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law webpage to explore the PA 146 Assessment and Curricula Lists. These lists provide districts with vetted tools and resources for supporting high‑quality screening, intervention, and instructional decision‑making. Ongoing submission and reviews will continue through December 2026.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has opened additional requests for submissions (RFS) for valid and reliable screening and progress monitoring assessments as well as evidence-based tier-1, class-wide, elementary, reading curricula. The RFS for each will remain open until September 2026. All vendors/literacy partners are encouraged to apply. Please note MDE will make public all submissions reviewed along with the consensus/scoring documents. Vendor Resources for the RFS are located on the K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law webpage.
MI K-12 Literacy Coaching Model - Phase 2 is Underway!
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has completed Phase 1 of the PA 146, Section (1)(b) mandate to “[r]ecommend or develop a literacy coach model…” Phase 1 of the K-12 Coaching Model work focused on: reading and understanding the legislative outline and mandates of PA 146; identifying the unique needs of Michigan’s educators and students; building the internal capacity and foundation for fulfilling and upholding mandates; clarifying goals, establishing processes, and preparing internal teams to move into broader collaborative work.
Phase 2 is now underway, and invitations have been extended to educators and educational organizations across the state to join the MI K-12 Literacy Coaching Model Committee. Committee members have a variety of personal and professional backgrounds, a multitude of experience in all facets of K-12 literacy and education and represent every region in Michigan. The Committee’s next step is to review existing K–12 literacy coaching models to determine if there is at least one that best supports Michigan’s PA 146, educators, and students. This collaborative review may lead to a recommended model for K–12 educators statewide.
PA 146 Professional Learning Resources
In support of the K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law (PA 146) Professional Learning requirements in section 7a-f, MDE has released the “PA 146 Professional Learning Resources” document which is now available on the MDE Literacy-Professional Learning webpage.
MiMTSS TA Center Professional Learning Offerings
The MDE Literacy Unit continues to partner with the MiMTSS TA center to offer technical assistance through training and presentations. For MiMTSS TA Center offerings please visit the MiMTSS TA Center’s Professional Learning Page.
Structured Literacy Series
Most recently, MiMTSS hosted a five part Structured Literacy Series to support the K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law/PA 146 professional learning. You can also find this series linked on the MDE Literacy-Professional Learning webpage.
MiMTSS TA Center: LETRS Volume 2 Power Hour Series
Are you ready to further apply your learning from LETRS Volume 2 to your classroom? Please join the MiMTSS TA Center team for LETRS Power Hours! These dynamic 90 minute sessions will expand and deepen the knowledge you gained from Volume 2 while offering practical application strategies in your elementary classroom! Each interactive session will focus on validated, evidence-based instructional strategies used in classrooms to foster active participation, in addition to helping teachers select and organize critical content in their curricula.
Sessions will explore effective strategies to PLAN lessons, TEACH skills, and PRACTICE, designing guided and independent opportunities for learners to apply their knowledge. Session dates are as follows: 4/13/26, 5/6/26, and 5/18/26 from 4:30-6:00pm.
Find out more and register: LETRS Volume 2 Power Hour Series
MDE Literacy Webpage
Visit the Michigan Department of Education’s Literacy Webpage to learn more about literacy efforts across the state; the K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law, and Professional Learning pages will continue to be updated.
Literacy Unit Listserv
Keep up to date on our most current information by subscribing to the Michigan Department of Education listserve. You can subscribe to literacy as well as other MDE communications you may be interested in.
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