This is the fourth in a six-part series outlining Rep. Doug Wozniak’s responses to key issues raised in the governor’s 2026 State of the State address.

State Rep. Doug Wozniak continued his response this week to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address, focusing on education and Michigan’s ongoing literacy challenges.

“Since Gov. Whitmer took office, third grade reading proficiency has decreased nearly 14 percent and the state fell 11 spots in national rankings in just two years,” said Wozniak (R-Shelby Township). “As of 2025, Michigan is ranked 44th in the country.”

The governor acknowledged this fact in her speech, calling it “a serious problem.” However, Wozniak said she failed to take responsibility for the role she and Democrats played in exacerbating Michigan’s literacy crisis.

In 2023, Gov. Whitmer and the Democratic Legislature repealed the third grade reading law and the A–F school accountability system Republicans had put in place to make sure struggling students get the help they need to learn to read and succeed in the classroom. Wozniak said these policies have a strong track record of improving reading proficiency across the country.

“Twenty-six other states have ‘Read by Grade Three’ laws, with five of those states ranking in the top 10 for reading scores,” Wozniak said. “At a time when six in 10 fourth graders in Michigan cannot read at grade level, we should be refocusing on proven strategies that help struggling students learn to read.”

The governor’s proposed course-correction comes in the form of a $625 million plan that focuses on earlier starts for Pre-K, implementing statewide literacy teaching practices, and identifying students who need extra help.

“House Republicans have been sounding the alarm for years and I’m glad to see the governor has finally gotten on board with prioritizing literacy,” Wozniak said. “While getting our students back on track is going to take a lot more than a new funding plan, this is absolutely a step in the right direction.”

In addition to the governor’s proposed funding, Wozniak said he hopes she will continue working with the Legislature to refocus Michigan’s education policies on proven strategies used in other states to improve reading outcomes and give every child the opportunity to succeed.