HOUSE BILL NO. 5081

September 26, 2025, Introduced by Reps. Schmaltz, Wozniak, Roth, Rigas, St. Germaine, Bierlein, Schuette, Hoadley, Harris, Pavlov, BeGole, Linting, Beson, DeBoyer, Meerman, Woolford, Outman, Neyer, Markkanen, Jenkins-Arno, DeBoer, Fox, Cavitt, Mentzer, Morgan, Rogers, Bruck, Miller, Prestin and VanderWall and referred to Committee on Education and Workforce.

"The revised school code,"

(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1253.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1253. (1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall ensure that the board or board of directors employs at least 1 teacher who is tasked with assisting pupils with dyslexia and has received training in Orton-Gillingham approach principles. The training described in this subsection must meet standards put forth by the International Dyslexia Association.

(2) As used in this section, "Orton-Gillingham approach principles" means a teaching approach for students with reading difficulties that does all of the following:

(a) Incorporates phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension into daily lessons.

(b) Teaches reading using a proven, multisensory approach.

(c) Breaks reading and spelling down into smaller skills involving letters and sounds, and then builds on those skills over time.

(d) Uses multisensory teaching strategies to teach reading by using sight, hearing, touch, and movement to help students connect and learn the concepts that are being taught.

(3) The board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall ensure that a teacher described in this section receives not less than 10 hours of professional learning per year on assisting pupils with dyslexia.