LETRS: Literacy Essentials for Teachers of Reading & 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.
LETRS District Success Partnership
Elevate Literacy Outcomes with the Michigan Leaders!
We are excited to share a prestigious professional opportunity designed to accelerate literacy achievement across Michigan. The Michigan Leaders District Success Partnership is now accepting applications from forward-thinking educational leaders.
This exclusive two-year partnership with Lexia provides participating districts with comprehensive, custom supports tailored to meet your unique instructional needs. Please note that this partnership is limited to the first 50 public school districts or public school academies (PSAs) that apply and fulfill the established criteria.
As this is a first-come, first-served opportunity, we encourage you to review the application and submit your interest promptly to secure your district's placement in this transformative initiative. Please direct any questions to 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 July 20th to receive payment in the August 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 2025-26 Section 35m Committee for Literacy Achievement / HQ Literacy Materials Grant application closed June 12, 2026 at 5pm ET.
- Total Applicants: 537
- Tier 1: 257
- Assessment: 207
- Interventions: 34
- Professional Development: 39
Please note: This is a formula grant that includes both a base allocation and a Pre-K to 12 per-pupil amount (based on fall 2025 certified count). After the department has determined the per-pupil formula based on the number of applicants, districts and ISDs will be notified through NexSys that modifications are required. Modifications will be required for all applications. This step will be the entry point to allow districts and ISDs to create their budget in NexSys for approval.
For more information including the Section 35m Application Checklist, FY 26 Section 35m FAQs and the approved lists, please visit the Section 35m webpage. Please direct any questions to MDE-EarlyLiteracy@michigan.gov.
K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law (PA 146)
Michigan's Assessment and Tier 1 Curricula Lists
These lists provide districts with vetted tools and resources for supporting high‑quality screening, intervention, and instructional decision‑making. The current lists were approved in March 2026 after round two of reviews. Each list will be updated by July 31, 2026 to reflect round three of reviews. Ongoing submission and reviews will continue through December 2026.
MI K-12 Literacy Coaching Model - Phase 2
Phase 2 is underway, and the MI K-12 Literacy Coaching Model Committee will 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. We will continue to keep you posted as our phases progress!
K-12 IRIP and Assessment Selection Guidance
COMING FALL 2026!
- K-12 IRIP Guidance slides, script and optional template
- Assessment Selection guidance slides and script
UPDATE! K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law Presentation (formerly “Literacy for All”)
MDE Literacy Unit consultants were excited to present our updated K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law presentation at the Washtenaw ISD Dyslexia Bootcamp on June 25, 2026! The updated version was created based on feedback from all previous roadshow sessions and includes a deep dive into the five components of the MTSS Framework, specific guidance for secondary while continuing to show alignment between the Michigan Dyslexia Handbook and the K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Law. The slides and script will be released in the fall for local and regional training purposes, but you are more than welcome to review and use the live version now! UPDATES2026: K-12 LitDysLaw-Handbook/MTSS (Full 3 hrs Workshop).
NEW! On the Road with the Literacy Unit
If you would like to attend any of the following events in which we are presenting, please reach out to the host. If you would like to inquire about hosting a regional training, please email mde-literacy-dyslexia@michigan.gov.
- 8/4-8/6/2026: MAISA Annual Coaching Institute, Lansing, MI
- 9/15/26: K-12 ISD ELA Consultants Meeting, GIRESD, Ithaca, MI
- 9/29-9/30: MiLEAP & MCSC Family Engagement Conference, Lansing, MI
- 9/30-10/2/26: The Reading League National Conference, Chicago, IL
- 10/12-10/14/26: MDE Special Populations Conference, Lansing, MI
- 11/2/26: COOR ISD, Roscommon, MI
- 11/19-11/20: MiMTSS Conference, Lansing, MI
- 12/4/26: UM Flint-New Teacher Academy, Flint, MI
NEW! Balanced Assessment Systems & Assessment Literacy Series
MDE OEAA (Office of Educational Assessment & Accountability) & MAC (Michigan Assessment Consortium) upcoming series
Achieving Balance in Classroom Assessment (ABCA):
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Designed for LEA Teams and/or ISD/RESA Teams
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Series begin October 2026 and September 2026, respectively
Assessment Literacy Institute (ALI):
Developing Quality Classroom Summative Assessments:
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Dates: November 9-10, and December 7, 2026
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This three-day professional learning series from the Michigan Assessment Consortium supports educators in designing high-quality, accurate classroom summative assessments that provide meaningful evidence of student learning.
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Developing Quality Classroom Summative Assessments (DQCSA)
NEW! MI Community Schools & Family Engagement Conference
In the first of its kind in Michigan, The Michigan Community Schools Coalition and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) are co-hosting a statewide event to spotlight both the work of the 10 Regional MiFamily Engagement Centers and 155 community schools dedicated to building, growing, and sustaining key family engagement and partnership practices across the state. The 2-day conference will take place in Mount Pleasant September 29-30. Attendees will include families, educators, district administrators, early childhood professionals, and community partners. The MDE Literacy Unit is pleased to announce that we are presenting a breakout session!
Save The Date! The Southwest Michigan MiFamily Engagement Center will be offering a free literacy training at Western Michigan University October 22-23. More details and registration will be coming soon.
MDE 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.
NEW! K-12 MTSS Framework Support
MiMTSS TA Center: Specialized TA
- MTSS Implementation support K-5 & 6-12
- Integrated Tier One Literacy, Social Emotional MTSS Framework
- MiMTSS TA Center Specialized TA Request Form
MiMTSS TA Center Structured Literacy Series
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 Professional Learning Offerings: Bringing LETRS to Life Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
Grounded in the 'why' behind effective instruction, this session deepens participants’ understanding of LETRS research and emphasizes the practical application of that knowledge in the classroom. By connecting reading science to practical lesson planning, educators will be ready to provide students with the instruction needed to become confident, successful readers. Find out more and register: Bringing LETRS to Life.
Ideas for hosting a themed back-to-school literacy night:
- Read-Aloud & Pajamas
- Family Writing Fun
- Literacy Learning Stations
- Book Character Celebration
- Storytelling and Oral Language
- Read, Create, and Make
- Reading Scavenger Hunt
- Book Tasting Event
- Creative Writing Café
- Graphic Novels and Comics
- Poetry Slam and Spoken Words
- Online Safety and Media Literacy
- Family Book Club
- College and Career Literacy
- Scholarship Writing
- Digital Research and AI Literacy
Thanks for spending part of your summer with us—you’re doing incredible work, and it truly shows. We hope this volume of our newsletter brings fresh energy and helps you head into the upcoming school year feeling inspired, refreshed, and ready to shine.
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 listserv. You can subscribe to literacy as well as other MDE communications you may be interested in.
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