Gov. Whitmer Announces Summer Reading Road Trip, Partners with Public Libraries to Keep Students Reading All Summer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2026

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Gov. Whitmer Announces Summer Reading Road Trip, Partners with Public Libraries to Keep Students Reading All Summer

Building on the governor's proposed record $625 million investment in literacy through Every Child Reads, the Summer Reading Road Trip will provide resources for fun, literacy-focused activities

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Summer Reading Road Trip, an accessible summer-long reading challenge created in partnership with public libraires to keep students reading this summer. Beginning June 24th, Michigan students PreK through 12th grade are invited to join a range of challenges that support reading, writing, and connection with your local library for a chance to win prizes.

"I'm excited for students across Michigan to join me on our Summer Reading Road Trip," said Governor Whitmer. "Literacy is an ordinary superpower that every student deserves. That's why we've created PreK for All, tripled literacy coaches, put phonics in the classroom, and proposed the largest literacy investment in Michigan history to help Every Child Read. Now, we're partnering with local libraries and providing resources to parents and students to keep our kids reading all summer long. Let's keep working together to help Every Child Read."

The Summer Reading Road Trip features four themed stops, beginning with Start Your Engines, where students are invited to engage in activities like starting a new book, writing a short story, or listening to a podcast. Throughout eight weeks, participants will be guided through four stops total with two-week blocks to complete challenges. Future themed stops include Explore Michigan, Visit Your Local Library, and Destination: Imagination.

Prize bags will be available to select participants, stocked with a book and other custom materials. Those interested in participating should look for updates on the Summer Reading Road Trip at Michigan.gov/SummerReadingRoadTrip. For contest rules and regulations, visit Michigan.gov/SummerReadingRules.

Governor Whitmer's 2027 budget recommendation includes the largest literacy investment in state history-including increasing investment in early starts, proven methods, and extra help. These investments build on progress Michigan is making to enroll a record number of 4-year-olds in free PreK, train, over 6,000 educators in the intensive science of reading professional learning program, LETRS, and connect more kids with affordable before, after, and summer programs.

Every Child Reads

Michigan's vision to help Every Child Read is a three-part plan that builds on years of record, bipartisan education investments in students and schools.

1. Early Starts: build on work parents already to do talk to, sing with, and read their babies stories with free, high-quality preK education. Continue delivering PreK for All to set every kid with a solid academic foundation, ensuring they arrive at kindergarten better prepared to learn.
2. Proven Methods: get evidence-based, proven literacy teaching practices into all Michigan classrooms. Fund additional professional learning for teachers, including LETRS training and coaching, so all educators use the most effective strategies to improve student outcomes, and expand the use of effective curriculum.
3. Extra Help: provide every student more tutoring and small group support in class, over the summer, and in before- and after-school programs.

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