Education: special education; at least 1 teacher trained in Orton-Gillingham approach principles; require each school district to employ. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1253.
Key claim: Michigan HB5081 would require each school district to employ at least one teacher trained in Orton-Gillingham approach principles for special education literacy instruction.
Abstract
(HB5081 · 103rd Legislature) Education: special education; at least 1 teacher trained in Orton-Gillingham approach principles; require each school district to employ. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1253. Latest action (2026-06-23): Referred To Committee On Education
Why this matters
For districts, HB5081 creates a new hiring/training obligation: every district must have at least one teacher versed in the Orton-Gillingham approach, a structured-literacy method widely used for students with dyslexia. For students and parents, it aims to guarantee baseline access to a research-associated literacy intervention within special education, though supply of trained teachers and cost implications for smaller districts are open questions.