Northwest Wayne News

March has been declared as Reading Month by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to cultivate the enjoyment of reading.

"Reading is a gift that opens the doors of possibility," Leah Porter, Michigan teacher of the year, said in a press release from the governor’s office. "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. March [as] Reading Month is a reminder of the power of literature and how one book, held in the right hands, can change someone's life."

The release said that Whitmer signed the School Aid budget into law in July. It provided $723 million to eradicate “the gap between the minimum and maximum foundation allowance” by providing $8,700 for every student. This equates to a rise of $589 per student from the current year's minimum amount and an increase of $171 per student from the current year's objective amount, along with a 4% operating increase for intermediate school districts, according to the release.

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

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

The governor’s office reported that schools received $150 million to provide COVID-19 testing in order to ensure the safety of all parties at schools, along with $10 million to back teacher recruitment, training, growth, and retention.

Last month, the Michigan Legislature approved a $1.2 billion supplemental bill that contributes federal government assets to keep students in class and sustain a robust medical workforce, according to the release.