Illinois’
comeback
story
starts here.
Manager of Education Policy
The state will require elementary teachers to be trained in the “science of reading.” Illinois should do the same.
Michigan is taking steps to address a national literacy crisis, and Illinois would be wise to follow suit.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a law last month that will require elementary school reading teachers to receive training in evidence-based literacy instruction.
The new law will require teachers who provide reading or language arts instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade to complete approved literacy training by the 2031-2032 school year.
The mandate is one part of Michigan’s broader literacy reforms. Laws passed in Michigan in 2024 require districts to use evidence-based reading instruction and to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Michigan also strengthened science-of-reading literacy requirements for teacher preparation programs and teaching certificates.
Illinois has taken initial steps toward improving reading instruction, but research — and the reading struggles of the state’s students — show why it would be wise to follow Michigan’s lead.
Just 53% of Illinois students in third through eighth grade met the state’s reading proficiency standard in 2025. That’s after the state lowered the scores considered proficient.
The proficiency is even lower when looking solely at third graders — only 47% met the proficiency standard on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in 2025.
That’s a danger sign. Reading by the end of third grade is critical because students then transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Students who cannot understand the material in front of them will struggle in nearly every subject.
Illinois has adopted a comprehensive literacy plan intended to promote evidence-based instruction and better prepare educators. But the plan serves primarily as a roadmap for districts, without imposing mandates. Illinois law requires the state board of education to make literacy training available, but it does not require all elementary reading teachers to complete it.
Making training available is a start. Making sure teachers get it is a better.
Michigan’s new policies align with several of the five literacy solutions the Illinois Policy Institute proposes state lawmakers pursue.
We recommend universal reading screenings for first- through third-graders. Early screening allows teachers and parents to identify problems before students spend years falling further behind.
A screening is useful only when it leads to additional help. We recommend that students with identified reading deficiencies receive targeted, evidence-based interventions, including instruction tailored to their specific needs.
Michigan is pairing its screening requirements with such interventions, including decoding and word recognition instruction. Illinois should similarly connect diagnoses with meaningful intervention.
Parents should be notified promptly when a child has a reading deficiency. They should receive clear information about the intervention their child will receive, the child’s progress and what families can do at home. Parents can’t advocate for help for their child if schools do not clearly explain the child is behind.
Illinois should require that districts use evidence-based literacy instruction and ensure that elementary teachers are trained to deliver it.
Michigan’s new teacher-training requirement recognizes an important reality: Adopting a new curriculum or publishing state guidance is not enough. Districts need to ensure that teachers develop a strong understanding of evidence-based literacy instruction practices and how to implement them.
When a student remains unable to read at grade level at the end of first, second or third grade, parents and teachers should discuss whether advancement to the next grade is in the student’s best interest.
Promotion should not be automatic when it means sending a child into more difficult coursework without the skills to handle it. Decisions should consider the student’s needs, intervention history and progress.
Michigan’s reforms are an investment in students’ futures. Teacher training and implementing reforms takes time, so Illinois should move quickly.
The state’s literacy plan acknowledges the importance of evidence-based instruction. The next step is ensuring those practices reach every classroom.
Related articles:
Chicago Office | Illinois Policy
300 S. Riverside Plaza | Suite 1650 |
Chicago, IL 60606
t 312.346.5700  f 312.283.7800
Copyright © 2026 Illinois Policy |
Illinois’ comeback story starts here
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.