Lansing Sun

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently declared March as Reading Month to promote the benefits of reading, according to a March 4 press release.

"Reading is a gift that opens the doors of possibility," said Leah Porter, Michigan teacher of the year, in the release. "It allows every single person the opportunity to grow, reflect, question, and empathize with situations that are both lived and unfamiliar. As an educator, helping students develop a lifelong love of reading gives them access to unending knowledge, discourse, and connection. Providing students with a variety of books is critical for all students to find stories that help them feel seen and understood.”

Michigan’s top teacher stressed that identifying March as ‘Reading Month’ serves as a reminder to others about the power of literature and how one book can change someone's life, she said in the release.

"Reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are critical to success in school and in life," said Dr. Michael Rice, state superintendent, in the release.

Whitmer has been focused on enhancing education through significant investments.

In July 2021, the governor signed the School Aid budget into law, according to the release. The legislation provided $723 million to eradicate “the gap between the minimum and maximum foundation allowance” by providing $8,700 for every student. It also provided a 4% operating increase for intermediate school districts.

The Michigan Legislature passed a supplemental bill in December 2021 that invested approximately $1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan toward the state's families, municipalities, and small businesses, the release stated.