Michigan Boosts Early Literacy with Coaching Program

State's investment in literacy coaches helps teachers improve reading instruction across classrooms.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:28am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Michigan's comprehensive literacy reform effort, the Read by Grade Three Law, has significantly improved early literacy instruction in classrooms across the state by funding literacy coaches at the Intermediate School District level. Researchers found that coaching was most successful in schools and districts that provided clear roles, manageable caseloads, strong administrative support, and access to high-quality instructional materials.

Why it matters

Improving literacy skills in the early grades is crucial for students' long-term academic success. Michigan's targeted investment in literacy coaching aims to address concerns over students' performance on state and national reading assessments.

The details

Since 2016-17, Michigan has steadily increased funding for early literacy coaches, reaching $42 million annually by 2023-24. The coaches work with teachers to strengthen reading instruction, with a focus on research-aligned practices. While implementation varied across districts, the most effective coaching models provided clear roles, manageable caseloads, strong administrative support, and access to high-quality materials.

  • Michigan passed the Read by Grade Three Law in 2016.
  • Funding for literacy coaches began in 2016-17 with a $3 million investment.
  • Funding has expanded to $42 million annually by 2023-24.

The players

Tanya Wright

Researcher at the University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education who studied the implementation of literacy coaching under the Read by Grade Three Law.

Lori Bruner

Researcher at the University of Albany who collaborated with Tanya Wright on the study.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

The governor of Michigan who has prioritized literacy in her proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Improving literacy instruction at scale is possible when coaching is well aligned with research and supported by strong local systems.”

— Tanya Wright, Researcher, University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education

What’s next

Gov. Whitmer's proposed budget for 2026-27 will aim to further expand access to literacy coaching and strengthen the infrastructure to support sustained, focused coaching across Michigan.

The takeaway

Michigan's investment in literacy coaching has shown promising results in improving early reading instruction, but continued efforts to expand access, clarify best practices, and strengthen local support systems will be crucial to ensuring all students develop strong literacy skills.