Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in her final budget proposal this week, is set to unveil a budget proposal for funding schools that invests $625 million in programs aimed at addressing the state鈥檚 K-12 literacy crisis.

The literacy investment would come at a time of increased focus on the troubling performance of Michigan students in literacy in the early grades. Just portion of the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress last year. It was the lowest performance of third graders in the exam鈥檚 11-year history, Chalkbeat and Bridge Michigan reported last year.

On the national front, , an exam known as the 鈥渘ation鈥檚 report card.鈥� That compares to 30% being proficient nationally. More concerning is that Michigan student performance has been stagnant and declining as other states that have invested heavily in early literacy have improved.

Whitmer, during her State of the State address last year, called for urgency in addressing the low performance, noting that Michigan spends more than most states.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not acceptable,鈥� Whitmer said. 鈥淔or our kids, let鈥檚 do better. Let鈥檚 face our literacy crisis with fierce urgency.鈥�

鈥淲hen every child reads, Michigan wins,鈥� Whitmer said in a statement provided by the governor鈥檚 office. 鈥淎s we face a nationwide literacy crisis, my education budget proposal includes big investments to build on the work we鈥檝e done to help kids read.鈥�

For the budget proposal she will deliver to the Michigan Legislature Wednesday, Whitmer鈥檚 Every Child Reads plan notes that investing in preschool and wraparound programs is just as important as improving curriculum and ensuring teachers are trained.

Here are some specifics of the plan the governor鈥檚 office shared with Chalkbeat this week:

• Part of the $625 million investment includes expansion of the state鈥檚 initiative, which aims to provide free preschool to children regardless of income. 鈥淚t starts with high-quality early learning, because the sooner kids start learning to read, the better they become,鈥� the governor鈥檚 office said in a media advisory.
• The budget would also invest more in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (or LETRS) training. LETRS is a professional development program based on the science of reading. The refers to a body of knowledge that emphasizes phonics along with building vocabulary and background knowledge.
• The budget will include funding that helps districts implement new science of reading-aligned curriculum. The Michigan Department of Education recently published a list of curriculums aligned with the science of reading. School districts aren鈥檛 required to adopt from the list. However, the current state budget has language requiring schools or risk losing a small percentage of their state funding.
• The budget proposes additional funding to expand summer, before-school, and after-school programming.

Additional details, such as information on how the additional funding would help districts implement curriculum aligned to the science of reading, weren鈥檛 available.

State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko, in a statement included in the governor鈥檚 advisory, said Whitmer鈥檚 focus on literacy is one shared by the Michigan Department of Education, which he oversees, and the State Board of Education, the elected board that hired him last year.

鈥淣othing is more important to our students and our state than improving literacy,鈥� Maleyko said. 鈥淩eading and writing are the foundation for long-term success, and I look forward to working with the Legislature through strong teamwork and shared responsibility to advance these priorities and continue improving student outcomes statewide.鈥�

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at .

TOPEKA 鈥� Turner Elementary School teacher Lexcee Oddo is recognized as a highly skilled, family-focused and whole-brain educator who taught second-graders before focusing on students learning English as a second language.

Those traits of educational devotion made her Kansas鈥� latest recipient of a $25,000 Milken Educator Award, which was presented Thursday during a surprise schoolwide assembly in Kansas City, Kansas.

鈥淒rawing from her curriculum knowledge and classroom experience, Lexcee helps students shine by building confidence, a passion for learning and a determination to achieve their goals. She is a valued teacher leader, mentor and trainer, and we are so proud to honor her,鈥� said Jennifer Fuller, vice president of the Milken Educator Awards program and a Texas recipient of the honor in 2017.

Fuller said Oddo鈥檚 approach to driving excellence among Turner Elementary鈥檚 English language learners incorporated both compassion and kindness.

Oddo earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education at Kansas State University in 2018. Two years ago, she completed a master鈥檚 degree in education administration at Emporia State University.

Oddo was the sole Kansas recipient of a Milken Educator Award in 2025-2026. She was the state鈥檚 74th since Kansas joined the program in 1992.

Nationally, Oddo and 29 other educators coast-to-coast were selected to be honored this academic year. They join a group of more than 3,000 K-12 teachers, principals and specialists singled out for recognition through a program established in 1987 by philanthropist Lowell Milken.

鈥淭alented educators play a critical role in preparing students to move successfully to the next stage of learning and life,鈥� Milken said. 鈥淔or 39 years, the Milken Educator Awards have been calling attention in a very public way to the essential work of educators 鈥� all in an effort to attract and retain high-quality talent to the teaching profession.鈥�

The objective has been to highlight educators while in early- or mid-career for what they achieved and for the promise each possessed. Nominated educators don鈥檛 receive notice of their candidacy, and awards are presented at events organized to surprise winners. No mandate for a winner鈥檚 use of the $25,000 prize existed, but some spend money on their children鈥檚 or their own education, to finance dream field trips or establish scholarships.

The Milken Foundation said Oddo was known for creating a learning environment where multilingual learners were empowered to grow in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Her prescription for student success blended high expectations, individualized support and a sense of purpose, the foundation said.

Oddo, who serves as a first-year buddy to new teachers, relied on student assessments to refine instruction and provide real-time interventions. She performed this work with a 鈥渃ulture of joy and collective efficacy鈥� that led to consistent student advances, the foundation said.

The foundation said Oddo was regarded as a whole-brain teacher who valued academic strength and social-emotional development of students. She hosted student recognition assemblies and an after-school tutoring designed to support students鈥� academic goals, the foundation said.

鈥淟excee represents the best of Kansas education,鈥� said Randy Watson, commissioner at the Kansas State Department of Education. 鈥淪he believes every child can learn and creates a classroom where high expectations and meaningful support help students thrive. Her leadership strengthens her colleagues, and the trust she builds with families reflects her deep commitment to every student鈥檚 success.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@kansasreflector.com.