Teachers Say Postsecondary Access, Special Education Funding, Stronger Literacy Across All Grade Levels, and Teacher Support Are Essential to Student Success
Lansing, MI, March 12, 2026—Today, 20 Teach Plus Michigan Policy Fellows are at the State Capitol with a clear message: too many Michigan students are still being left behind by gaps in opportunity that the state has the power to close. These teacher leaders are meeting with policymakers to share what they see in their classrooms every day—and to push for concrete, research-driven policies that give every student a real shot at the future.
“Literacy, special education funding, a strong teaching workforce, equitable access to postsecondary pathways—these aren’t abstract policy goals. They’re the conditions that determine whether Michigan students can reach their full potential. Our teachers are at the Capitol today to make sure that momentum translates into real change for every student — including the ones who’ve been waiting the longest,” said Teach Plus Michigan Executive Director Ben Locke.
Teach Plus teacher leaders are calling for universal access to college and career pathways—such as Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, early middle college, career-technical education, and International Baccalaureate—for every student by 2029. To make that real, they are urging the state to provide the funding and teacher support necessary to bring these opportunities to every student, no matter where they live or what school they attend.
“In Rockford, we made AP for All a reality—every 9th grader takes Pre-AP English, every 10th grader takes AP Seminar. The results speak for themselves: higher PSAT and SAT scores, more students signing up for future AP courses, and something harder to measure but just as real—students who now believe they’re capable. When you give all students the chance to try, with no strings attached, their futures open up. Every Michigan student deserves that same chance,” said Erin Kraker, a 9th grade English teacher at Rockford High School’s Freshman Center and a 2025-26 Teach Plus Michigan Policy Fellow.
Building literacy skills doesn’t stop in 3rd grade—and neither should the support students get. Teach Plus teacher leaders are asking lawmakers to expand evidence-based literacy support into upper elementary, middle, and high school, advocating for professional learning that helps teachers at every grade level and for reading interventionists in secondary schools where they’re needed most.
“As a middle school English and Language Arts teacher, I see the reality of Michigan’s literacy crisis every single day. Strong state literacy support is essential—especially for late elementary, middle, and high school students, and the teachers who serve them. Students need targeted resources and skilled, qualified educators who can address the literacy gaps that too often get overlooked after 3rd grade. Every student deserves a pathway to success,” said Leathia Hardy-Williams, an 8th grade English language arts instructor at the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences and a 2025-26 Teach Plus Michigan Policy Fellow.
Beyond postsecondary access and literacy, Teach Plus teacher leaders are advocating for special education funding reform and a weighted funding model that is transparent, predictable, and built around what students actually need, as outlined in the MI Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint. And they’re urging the legislature to pass a comprehensive package of bills that ensure strong, well-supported teachers—with fair compensation and real workload protections—are leading every classroom. Together, these priorities reflect Teach Plus Michigan’s commitment to closing the gaps that stand between Michigan students and the futures they deserve. Read the full legislative agenda here.
About Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students. teachplus.org/MI
