House Republicans Vote for Proven Education Curriculum

Lansing, MI – Today, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a package of bills that would help put Michigan back on track when it comes to reading. 

For too long, students in Michigan have been falling behind their peers when it comes to literacy, in part because the curriculum the state uses has not been evidence-based and educators have not had the tools they need to teach effectively. 

This bill package would move Michigan towards the phonics-based, Science of Reading curriculum, a proven literacy program that has produced results across the country. This curriculum played a large part in the state of Mississippi’s education overhaul that catapulted them from 48th to 8th in literacy.

Michigan currently ranks 44th in literacy, and last year, third-graders had the lowest scores on the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the M-STEP in the history of the test. Governor Gretchen Whitmer finally noticed Michigan’s literacy crisis, addressing it in her final State of the State speech this year after years of declining scores under her watch. 

However, it has been House Republicans who have passed education reform this year, like a new third-grade reading law, which would prevent schools from graduating students who are struggling with literacy to higher and higher grades.

“We want to thank House Republicans for their leadership on the critical issue of literacy,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “While other voices in Lansing have talked a big game on education, Speaker Matt Hall has been tackling this crisis head-on.”