In 2016, the State of Michigan passed a law stating that school districts must assess and identify struggling readers and writers in K-3 within the first 30 days of school. 

Districts are required to provide such students the appropriate help in literacy, while detailing these plans in an Individual Reading Improvement Plan (IRIP).

The law states that students may be retained in third grade if they are more than a grade level behind in reading (as determined by their score in English Language Arts on the M-Step Statewide Assessment).

IRIP plans will be shared with parents/guardians and a "read at home" plan will be developed in order to support learning outside of school.