Leelanau County schools are preparing for a significant shift in how students are taught to read, as Michigan’s new dyslexia and literacy law takes effect in the coming years.
The legislation, part of Public Act 146 of 2024, requires schools across the state to screen students for dyslexia and provide targeted, evidence based reading interventions.
The law expands Michigan’s existing “Read by Grade Three” mandate, by ensuring that all students in kindergarten through third grade are assessed for early signs of reading difficulties, including characteristics of dyslexia. Schools will be required to screen students three times per year and provide interventions tailored to the student’s individual needs.
Some Leelanau County schools already have systems in place that closely align with the new requirements. At Leland Public School, students’ reading skills are currently assessed three times per year using benchmark tools such as the NWEA’s MAP Growth test.
“If a student shows signs of difficulty, we take a closer look with additional assessments to understand exactly where they need support,” said Leland Public School Principal Shelagh Fehrenbach. “Then we work with the student in small group interventions to close the skill gap and give the additional needed practice.”
Fehrenbach said the school’s current approach is already similar to what the new law will require.
“Our interventions are well aligned with the new dyslexia law, though we will continue to monitor the state’s lists of approved programs and assessments and adjust as needed to meet those requirements,” she said.
Districts will need to adopt a reading curriculum that aligns with “the science of reading,” emphasizing phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
According to Fehrenbach, Leland’s teachers have already completed extensive professional development in this area.
“All of our K-5 teachers have completed training in the Science of Reading, which focuses on how children learn to read and how to support students who struggle,” she said, and added that the training was completed last year and is provided to new staff as well.
Current interventions at Leland focus on foundational reading skills such as letter sounds, blending and segmenting, and decoding multisyllabic words.
“Since we follow these best practices, families shouldn’t see major changes to services,” said Fehrenbach. “Some of our services might shift to use a different program or assessment as needed.”
The Michigan Department of Education is providing help by giving lists of approved screening tools and instructional materials to help districts comply with the new requirements.
The full implementation of the requirements is expected in the 2027 -2028 school year.
The law does not require a medical diagnosis for dyslexia but focuses on educational identification and intervention. Parents will be notified if their child shows signs of reading difficulty so that they can be a part of the discussion from the start.
Supporters of the legislation hope early identification and evidence based instruction will improve literacy rates and prevent students from falling behind in the critical early years of learning to read.
