In a momentous development, Detroit’s DPSCD is finally receiving the long-awaited $94.4 million ‘right to read’ settlement, more than three years after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s initial promise. This substantial injection of funds, part of a $21.5 billion K-12 school aid budget, signifies a victory for those tirelessly advocating for Detroit’s youth’s educational rights.
The lawsuit behind this funding was a striking condemnation of the gross negligence exhibited by Michigan’s emergency managers between 2009 and 2016. The conditions they imposed on Detroit’s public schools were described as so dire, the students were effectively robbed of their constitutional right to basic literacy education.
Detroit’s students have long been marooned at the bottom of national reading score rankings, a fact that hits home with particular force for the city’s Black youth. The funds from the settlement, which must be expended by Sept. 30, 2027, are targeted towards increasing reading instruction and support within the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). This includes the potential employment of academic interventionists, professionals specialized in providing individualized reading support to struggling students.
While the lawsuit initially sought to establish a constitutional right to literacy, the plaintiffs settled in 2020 and retracted this aspect of their claim. However, the settlement required Gov. Whitmer to propose legislation aimed at funneling more resources into the district to bolster literacy efforts. After two unsuccessful attempts, the legislation has finally cleared under the Democratic-led Legislature.
One simply cannot overstate the impact this will have on Detroit’s Black youth. The incoming funds represent not only an increased emphasis on the provision of quality education but also a recognition of a systemic issue that has long disadvantaged our children. This is more than a step towards educational equity – it’s a leap towards dismantling an institutional barrier that has long hindered the progress of Detroit’s Black youth. With dedicated resources and firm commitment, we look forward to seeing a new chapter in Detroit’s educational landscape.
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