The most impactful way to advocate for these bills at this time is to write, email, and call members of the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee...

This Dyslexia legislation is being drafted and introduced as a bi-partisan effort to improve literacy education in Michigan. These four bills have been introduced by the following State Senators.

• Senate Bill 380 (Irwin): Requires student screening in grades K-3 for decoding difficulties, and provides for a resulting system of support.
• Senate Bill 381 (Theis): Requires teacher preparation institutions to offer instruction on dyslexia and related evidence-based supports.
• Senate Bill 382 (Polehanki): Requires new teacher certifications include instruction on instructional areas defined in 381.
• Senate Bill 383 (Runestad): Requires creation of an advisory committee to develop a dyslexia resource guide.

Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee:

Senator Lana Theis (R), Education Committee Chair

Senator Ken Horn (R), Vice Chair

Senator Dayna Polehanki (D), Education Committee Minority Vice Chair

Senator Jon Bumstead (R)

Senator Kevin Daley (R)

Senator Erika Geiss (D)

Senator Jim Runested (R)

Committee Member Contact Information:

Senator Lana Theis (R), Chair
(517) 373-2420
[email protected]
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Senator Ken Horn (R), Vice Chair
(517) 373-1760
[email protected]

Senator Dayna Polehanki (D), Minority Vice Chair
(517) 373-7350
[email protected]

Senator Jon Bumstead (R)
(517) 373-1635
[email protected]

Senator Kevin Daley (R)
(517) 373-1777
[email protected]

Senator Erika Geiss (D)
(517) 373-7800
[email protected]

Senator Jim Runested (R)
(517) 373-1758
[email protected]

Mailing addresses for postal mail letters:

For all State Senators:
Michigan Senate
P.O. BOX  30036
Lansing, Michigan  48909

For all State Representatives:
Michigan House of Representatives
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514

Sharing your personal story is best, but here is a template to help you start:

Dear Senator/Representative____________,

Legislation has been introduced in the Michigan Legislature that will make a positive difference for those with the characteristics of dyslexia and that struggle with decoding and word recognition.  These bills will change the Revised School Code to identify and intervene with these children, many of which have dyslexia. The bills also provide training to teachers in the characteristics and accommodations for students with dyslexia and reading instruction based on cognitive science.  I ask that you support these bills. Teachers deserve to be highly trained so they may use effective instruction and interventions to help ALL students across Michigan become proficient readers. Only then will ALL students reach their full potential academically and personally.

Your name
Address​