Michigan Senate approves bills to help students struggling with dyslexia

Lansing — The experiences of a constituent and the desire to boost Michigan students' abilities to read spurred the state Senate Tuesday to approve a set of bills that aim to identify and aid students struggling with dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading because of problems identifying speech sounds and learning how the sounds relate to letters, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dyslexia affects about one in every five people, according to a 2022 handbook from the Michigan Department of Education.

Sen. Jeff Irwin, the sponsor of one of the bills that were approved Tuesday, said in 2016, a constituent named Caroline Kaganov of Ann Arbor told him about the problems she had getting assistance for her son who has dyslexia.

"This is about literacy," Irwin told reporters. "This is about resourcing kids with the skills to be successful in life. And this constituent was right: No parent should have to fight with their school district to get attention for their kids."

Irwin's bill would require school districts to ensure that students are screened for characteristics of dyslexia and if a child were found to have the characteristics, districts would have to provide a system of support. That system could include working with them in small groups or one-on-one, Irwin said.

The measure passed the Senate 37-1 with Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, casting the lone no vote.

A second bill would require the Michigan Department of Education to only authorize teacher preparation programs that cover dyslexia. It passed 38-0.

The proposals weave the science of reading into the state's existing early elementary literacy programs, assessments, educator training efforts and intervention programs, Irwin said.

In February, Irwin's constituent Kaganov testified in support of the bills in the Senate Education Committee. Kaganov said her son was diagnosed with dyslexia in first grade but was not given evidence-based literacy intervention.

"We can make a difference if we can identify children with dyslexic traits early and get them the evidence-based intervention they need in structured literacy," Kaganov told lawmakers. "If we wait to intervene then we have many more issues to address.

"We have children who feel inferior due to their inability to read when in reality, if given the right intervention, they would be readers," Kaganov added.

Kaganov's son is now in ninth grade, according to her committee testimony.

The results of the 2023 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, known as M-STEP, released in August showed that less than half of third graders statewide, 40.9%, passed the state's English language arts test.

Ahead of the votes Tuesday, multiple lawmakers shared personal stories of struggles reading and urged their colleagues to take action.

State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, said he faced difficulties reading as a fourth-grader. But an intensive summer reading program helped him get on track, he said.

"It was such an important thing for me," Runestad said.

Sen. Sue Shink, D-Northfield Township, said her husband and children are dyslexic.

"Dyslexia is something that you can solve with proper intervention," Shink said. "Screening is the first step."

Irwin told reporters on Tuesday that he heard from one individual who said when they were struggling with dyslexia in elementary school, they acted out a lot.

"It was easier to be the bad kid than to be the stupid kid," Irwin said the person told him.

"That really hit home for me," the senator added.

Under the legislation, the dyslexia screenings would have to be in place by the 2027-2028 school year.

Sen. Dayna Polehanki, a Livonia Democrat and a former teacher, said the ramp-up period is meant to give testing companies time to make the testing work and to give teachers more time to get trained.

"It's only fair to give these school districts that additional time," Polehanki said.

The Michigan House still has to consider the bills, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has to sign them in order for them to become law.

cmauger@detroitnews.com