Investing in Our Future

On Wednesday, Governor Snyder announced a proposal to improve early literacy in Michigan through targeted investments in early identification of struggling readers and better interventions to help young students improve. The state investment of $25 million, a part of the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal, includes funding for:

• Parent education programs
• Tools to monitor the development of early reading skills
• Professional development on research-based literacy instruction
• A certification test on evidence-based literacy instruction for new teachers
• Literacy coaches, to help develop and implement effective instruction, and
• Additional instruction and supports for struggling readers.

Additionally, the Governor indicated that he remains committed to a strong, meaningful system of educator evaluation and support by maintaining the $14.8 million investment that he first proposed for the current funding year. An increase of $100 million for at-risk students and a $75 per pupil increase is also included in the Governor’s proposal.

A new report from Business Leaders for Michigan focuses on the difference that postsecondary education for our economy. Read “Business Leaders’ Insights: How Higher Education Can Help Michigan Become a Top Ten State” here.