Education

Michigan passed new laws requiring early dyslexia screening and evidence-based reading instruction, backed by a FY2026 budget that raises per-pupil funding and funds free school meals. Meanwhile, Detroit Public Schools Community District enrollment has fallen from about 160,000 students in 2000 to roughly 49,000 today, with the district weighing school closures and consolidations for the 2025-26 year.

State literacy investment could improve reading outcomes for Detroit's youngest students, but declining DPSCD enrollment — with an estimated 72,000 available seats districtwide — is forcing difficult decisions about which schools stay open, directly affecting families' school choices and neighborhood stability.