Dean Moje joins Governor Gretchen Whitmer and State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko at the Michigan Literacy Summit

On Monday, December 15, Dean Elizabeth Birr Moje joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer and State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko at the inaugural Michigan Literacy Summit. The gathering convened nearly 300 leaders from across the state representing sectors including education, labor, business, philanthropy, government, legislators, and State Board members. The summit emphasized the need to work together to accelerate statewide efforts to improve student literacy.

Panel discussions featured experts who shared perspectives that helped the audience better understand both the challenges the state of Michigan faces in terms of literacy and proven strategies for helping Michigan students learn to read better. The summit also featured panelists from Mississippi who talked about how their state historically turned around its literacy outcomes, and what states like Michigan can learn from their work.

“Michigan’s Literacy Summit is an essential step in doing the collective work we must do to transform how we teach children and youth in our state,” said Dean Moje. “Putting children squarely in our sights as we discuss literacy and all other education work in our state is essential to making lasting change for all learners. To do this work, we must commit to seeking solutions together.”

Governor Whitmer issued a call to action at the end of the summit, saying, “This is not a partisan issue—it’s a shared responsibility. We must start early, invest in teachers, and identify struggling readers sooner. Literacy is a shared responsibility, and it’s on all of us to solve this problem. Together, we can make Michigan a place where every child reads and thrives.”