A bipartisan group of state senators has introduced legislation that seeks to improve childhood literacy in Michigan by focusing on dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a common kind of learning disability.
Republican Senator Jim Runestad is a co-sponsor of the four bill package.
"Currently Michigan law does not require school districts to screen for dyslexia or even to train our teachers on how to recognize the signs of dyslexia, making Michigan dead last for helping these students succeed," said Runestad.
He says this is a major reason why more than half of Michigan's 3rd and fourth graders are reading and writing below grade level.
The bills would require school districts to test children from Kindergarten through third grade - and would mandate systems for helping kids with dyslexia.