{"id":67846,"date":"2025-10-07T18:19:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T22:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?p=67846"},"modified":"2025-10-09T10:51:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T14:51:46","slug":"michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan students lag in reading. Will\u00a0mandatory teacher training help?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The state Board of Education and some other leaders are pushing to make a specific \u2018science of reading\u2019 course called LETRS mandatory for some teachers.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The course is currently optional&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Several teachers said they love the course, but it may take nights and weekends to complete<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>OAK PARK \u2014 First grade teacher Danielle Cover remembers when she learned about literacy during her university training.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it was years later where the Ferndale Lower Elementary School teacher had an \u201ceye-opening\u201d experience and learned just how important it is for students to be able to piece together individual letter sounds and blends of letters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cover took <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexialearning.com\/michigan-letrs\">Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) <\/a>training. The training focuses on how the brain learns to read, often referred to as the \u201cscience of reading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is hands down, the best training I have received about literacy instruction down to the most finite piece of building the code.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building that code takes time, and teachers say explicit instruction. No more pushing students to guess a word based on a picture or other cue.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the 2027-2028 school year, districts must assure the state that teachers have been trained in the science of reading, said DeNesha Rawls-Smith, literacy unit manager at the Office of Educational Supports at the Michigan Department of Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-schools-are-floundering-how-some-buck-the-trend-improve-literacy\/\"><strong>Michigan schools are floundering. How some buck the trend, improve literacy<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/mississippi-turned-around-its-schools-its-secret-tools-michigan-abandoned\/\"><strong>Mississippi turned around its schools. Its secret: Tools Michigan abandoned<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-awards-87-million-for-schools-to-buy-proven-literacy-materials\/\"><strong>Michigan awards $87 million for schools to buy proven literacy materials<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Third graders are reading at <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/m-step-results-third-grade-english-language-arts-reaches-new-low\/\">historically low levels<\/a> in Michigan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Training teachers in LETRS is one solution that has shown promise \u2014 and teachers who\u2019ve taken the course agree that it works. What educators don&#8217;t agree on is whether they should be forced to take it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Former State Superintendent Michael Rice, who retired last week, repeatedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/-\/media\/Project\/Websites\/mde\/top10\/2025-Legislative-Priority-Letter\/250115-2025-Legislative-Priorities-for-Education.pdf\">called for the Legislature to require LETRS training<\/a>, and the State Board of Education <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/-\/media\/Project\/Websites\/mde\/State-Board\/Resolutions\/2025\/FINAL---RESOLUTION---Mandated-LETRS-SOR-Equivalent-Training---Sept-2025.pdf?rev=ca40997a8546433eacb1e2c358f9f6d9\">also called<\/a> for a requirement last month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe know that phonics is important,\u201d said State Board of Education vice president Tiffany Tilley, a Democrat, who sponsored the board\u2019s resolution. \u201cWe know that LETRS training is working in other states. And I really believe that this could help in Michigan.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Michigan Education Association, a teacher\u2019s union, said that while it supports efforts to train teachers, it\u2019s not feasible nor fair to require teachers to complete the time-intensive training, said Thomas Morgan, an MEA spokesperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said teachers should not be expected to give up their nights or weekends and that even if teachers are given time during the school day, that could shortchange students by taking their regular teacher out of the classroom.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe need to make sure that school districts have what they need to provide these professional development opportunities for teachers,\u201d Morgan told Bridge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gubernatorial candidates Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat,&nbsp; Former Attorney General Mike Cox, a Republican, both <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/improving-michigan-education-full-responses-major-gubernatorial-candidates\/?_gl=1*daoau3*_gcl_au*MTQyMzk5MTY2OC4xNzU2ODE4NDYx*_ga*MjA3NzQ4MjgxMS4xNzI1NDYyMTQy*_ga_SDMLQHFB10*czE3NTg2NTMxNDkkbzEyODMkZzEkdDE3NTg2NTQ1OTMkajQkbDAkaDA.*_ga_1E2G9MSHX5*czE3NTg2NTMxNDgkbzEyOTMkZzEkdDE3NTg2NTQ1ODckajEwJGwwJGgw*_ga_KX5CRZVP9F*czE3NTg2NTMxNDgkbzIwMyRnMSR0MTc1ODY1NDU4NyRqMTAkbDAkaDA.#Cox1\">previously told Bridge <\/a>they would make science of reading training mandatory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2018An awakening\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Educators are already changing how they teach as a result of training programs like LETRS, as well as new curricula that districts are adopting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEven though I had been teaching reading for 20 years, I didn\u2019t know how to teach reading,\u201d said Kim Metzger, a K-5 instructional coach for English language arts Westwood Community Schools in Dearborn Heights.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd we had great oral language, we could talk, I could help with writing, but I couldn\u2019t really help them with reading because I wasn\u2019t teaching phonics.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"966\" data-attachment-id=\"67844\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/westwood-teachers\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?fit=2560%2C2415&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,2415\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.9&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 16 Pro Max&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1758282703&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.6900000572505&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;320&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.033333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Westwood teachers courtesy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Jill Johnsen, kindergarten teacher at Westwood Community Schools, and Kim Metzger, K-5 instructional coach for English language arts, have both completed training in the \u2018science of reading.\u2019 (Courtesy photo) &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?fit=300%2C283&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?fit=1024%2C966&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers.jpeg?resize=1024%2C966&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Jill Johnsen and Kim Metzger take a selfie in an office.\" class=\"wp-image-67844\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C966&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=300%2C283&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C724&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1449&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1932&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1132&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1886&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=780%2C736&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-scaled.jpeg?resize=400%2C377&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Westwood-teachers-1024x966.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jill Johnsen, kindergarten teacher at Westwood Community Schools, and Kim Metzger, K-5 instructional coach for English language arts, have both completed training in the \u2018science of reading.\u2019 (Courtesy photo) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Metzger\u2019s experience with LETRS training is similar to many teachers across the state and country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rawls-Smith said the department has received several emails and testimonials on the effectiveness of the training, but it doesn\u2019t have \u201cany official quantitative data\u201d on how it affects student performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s an awakening occurring with educators like \u2018I just didn&#8217;t know what I didn&#8217;t know,\u201d said Rawls-Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the popular podcast series <a href=\"https:\/\/features.apmreports.org\/sold-a-story\/\">Sold a Story<\/a>, teachers across the country recount how they realized that their teaching practices were falling short. Cover, the Ferndale teacher, said \u201cyou couldn\u2019t unhear what you heard.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Long hours&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Educators told Bridge they spent their nights or weekends on the training. The elementary course can take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexialearning.com\/user_area\/content_media\/raw\/LETRSEstimatedTimebyUnit_2022_DH2.pdf\">137.5 to 168 hours<\/a>, while the early childhood course is expected to take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexialearning.com\/user_area\/content_media\/raw\/LETRSEarlyChildhoodEstimatedTimetoCompletebyUnit.pdf\">32 to 37.5 hours,<\/a> and the administrator course is expected to take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexialearning.com\/user_area\/content_media\/raw\/LETRSforAdministrators-EstimatedTimetoCompletebyUnit.pdf\">59 hours<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, the Legislature should require \u201call current and future K\u20135 educators complete LETRS training within a reasonable timeframe and to fund this mandate\u201d under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/-\/media\/Project\/Websites\/mde\/State-Board\/Resolutions\/2025\/FINAL---RESOLUTION---Mandated-LETRS-SOR-Equivalent-Training---Sept-2025.pdf?rev=ca40997a8546433eacb1e2c358f9f6d9\">resolution<\/a> the State Board of Education passed last month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan is not alone in its emphasis on LETRS, which is one of several such reading training programs offered to school districts nationwide.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"582\" data-attachment-id=\"67843\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/lexia-letrs-courtesy\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?fit=1175%2C668&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1175,668\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lexia LETRS &amp;#8211; Courtesy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lexia LETRS training includes live discussions with other teachers learning about the how the brain learns to read. (Courtesy of Lexia) &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?fit=300%2C171&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?fit=1024%2C582&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?resize=1024%2C582&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A screenshot of the Lexia LETRS training on screen. It's highlighting &quot;The Simple View of Reading.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-67843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?resize=1024%2C582&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?resize=300%2C171&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?resize=768%2C437&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?resize=780%2C443&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?resize=400%2C227&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy.png?w=1175&amp;ssl=1 1175w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Lexia-LETRS-Courtesy-1024x582.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lexia LETRS training includes live discussions with other teachers learning about the how the brain learns to read. (Courtesy of Lexia) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;re talking about roughly half of the United States has some measure of a state level implementation with Lexia LETRS,\u201d said Cassandra Wheeler, national senior education adviser for Lexia. \u201cEither they\u2019re currently experiencing it or they&#8217;ve just experienced it.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Mississippi, which has outperformed Michigan in fourth grade reading in recent years, leaders have cited <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/mississippi-turned-around-its-schools-its-secret-tools-michigan-abandoned\/\">teacher training through LETRS<\/a> as one reason the state has made gains. Mississippi now uses a <a href=\"https:\/\/msachieves.mdek12.org\/registration-open-for-mississippi-science-of-reading-trainings-for-teachers-school-leaders-and-district-leaders\/\">different training program<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How much has Michigan spent on the training?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gov. Gretchen Whitmer <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/gretchen-whitmer-signs-81b-michigan-budget-what-to-know\/\">signed the new education budget into law<\/a> Tuesday, which includes $10 million for the training.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the previous four fiscal years, the state put a total of $34 million toward the LETRS training.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Statewide, 5,200 educators have completed the course and another 6,800 educators are in the course, according to an MDE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/news-and-information\/press-releases\/2025\/10\/03\/mde-statement-on-state-school-aid-budget\">news release<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MDE declined to provide a specific estimate of how much it would cost the state if LETRS training becomes mandatory. \u201cThe vendor chosen to provide those services will have to provide competitive pricing based upon the much larger number of teachers that would be trained compared to the number of teachers currently being trained under voluntary LETRS training,\u201d MDE said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Trying to turn a massive ship&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignright is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJKK7mUvt_h\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJKK7mUvt_h\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Bridge Michigan (@bridge.michigan)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Teacher training is one aspect of Michigan\u2019s efforts to improve student literacy. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-awards-87-million-for-schools-to-buy-proven-literacy-materials\/\">funds for high-quality literacy curricul<\/a>a, funding for literacy coaches to help teachers improve skills and new requirements for school districts in the coming years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LETRS is \u201cnot a quick fix,\u201d Tilley, the state board member said, and is only one factor in getting the state to improve its literacy scores. Tilley cited <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-chronic-absenteeism-inches-down-but-remains-higher-pre-pandemic\/\">high absenteeism rates<\/a> as another factor in student performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LETRS is not the only option available to teachers. Some districts are choosing programs offered by the <a href=\"https:\/\/ufli.education.ufl.edu\/foundations\/toolbox\/\">University of Florida Literacy Institute<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/imse.com\/about-us\/\">Institute for Multi-Sensory Education<\/a> and individual curriculum companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Curriculum companies offer teacher training on their specific curriculum, while LETRS is not tied to a specific reading curriculum, often referred to as program agnostic, a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/board-picks-interim-state-superintendent-as-maleyko-contract-talks-continue\/\">selling point for the state<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe difference is I can take my learning from LETRS and I can apply it to the literacy curriculum that my district is using,\u201d<strong> <\/strong>Rawls-Smith, the state official, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/GXOl4aqVHaY?si=uTwtEFdb_Tq-Ujyz&amp;t=6182\">told state board members last month<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ll learn about the brain and how the brain reads. I\u2019ll learn about why children have a difficulty creating those roadmaps in their brain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heidi Winkler, a first grade teacher at Allendale Public Schools, said the district provided teachers with time during the school day to take the training or funds to take the training in the evening. She said she would support requiring the training but teachers should be compensated for their time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI feel like this was better than some professional development that you might sit through sometimes that you don\u2019t know when you\u2019re going to be able to use it.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-attachment-id=\"67845\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/heidi-winkler-courtesy\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?fit=2560%2C1920&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1920\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 14&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1758527675&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;125&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0083333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Heidi Winkler courtesy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Heidi Winkler, first grade teacher at Allendale Public Schools, completed the LETRS training. She said she would support requiring the training but teachers should be compensated for their time.  (Courtesy photo)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?fit=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Heidi Winkler sits at her desk in her classroom.\" class=\"wp-image-67845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1500&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-scaled.jpeg?resize=780%2C585&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Heidi-Winkler-courtesy-1024x768.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Heidi Winkler, first grade teacher at Allendale Public Schools, completed the LETRS training. She said she would support requiring the training but teachers should be compensated for their time.  (Courtesy photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/b3457f997a2f\/will-districts-cut-or-protect-pd?e=f13fd2224b#_ftn1\">recent newsletter<\/a>, the Edunomics Lab, a research center out of Georgetown University, cautioned that school districts should be judicious with professional development.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne place to start is by being clear about the student outcomes leaders hope to see from PD \u2014 and honest when it doesn\u2019t deliver. A high-cost investment can be worth it if outcomes are growing. But if outcomes are stagnant, it may be <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/3cf64c47e1d4\/new-forms-of-teacher-pay-take-hold\">time to try something else<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michigan leaders agree student literacy scores need to improve. One idea some are pushing is to mandate a specific \u2018science of reading\u2019 training called LETRS. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":581,"featured_media":67842,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-10-07T22:19:38Z","apple_news_api_id":"db6f100f-bb60-46ce-953b-dd020090a17f","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-10-09T14:51:52Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A228QD7tgRs6VO90CAJChfw","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2454],"tags":[1510],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2475],"class_list":["post-67846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-talent-education","tag-michigan-k-12-schools","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Michigan students lag in reading. Will\u00a0mandatory teacher training help? - Bridge Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Michigan students lag in reading. Will\u00a0mandatory teacher training help? - Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Michigan leaders agree student literacy scores need to improve. One idea some are pushing is to mandate a specific \u2018science of reading\u2019 training called LETRS.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BridgeMichigan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-07T22:19:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-09T14:51:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Danielle-Cover_IL.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Isabel Lohman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@bridgemichigan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@bridgemichigan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Isabel Lohman\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Isabel Lohman\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#\/schema\/person\/11c180026f82614f93c19d9f138d3e0b\"},\"headline\":\"Michigan students lag in reading. 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State Superintendent Michael Rice says changes from two laws passed last year will help.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Michael Rice headshot.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rice-headshot-courtesy.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rice-headshot-courtesy.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rice-headshot-courtesy.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rice-headshot-courtesy.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rice-headshot-courtesy.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73180,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/gretchen-whitmer-wants-to-boost-literacy-in-michigan-heres-what-to-know\/","url_meta":{"origin":67846,"position":5},"title":"Gretchen Whitmer wants to boost literacy in Michigan. 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