Lansing, Michigan – Michigan is trying to turn summer reading into something that feels less like homework and more like a road trip.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this week announced the Summer Reading Road Trip, a summer-long reading challenge built with public libraries to help students keep reading while school is out. The program started June 24 and is open to Michigan students from PreK through 12th grade.
The idea is simple: keep books, writing and local libraries close during the long summer break, when reading skills can slip if students lose the habit. Over eight weeks, students will move through four themed “stops,” each built around small challenges that encourage them to read, write, listen and explore.
“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.”
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The first stop, called “Start Your Engines,” invites students to begin with activities such as picking up a new book, writing a short story or listening to a podcast. The next stops will continue in two-week blocks under the themes “Explore Michigan,” “Visit Your Local Library” and “Destination: Imagination.”
Select participants will be eligible for prize bags that include a book and other custom materials. Families can follow updates at Michigan.gov/SummerReadingRoadTrip, while contest rules are available at Michigan.gov/SummerReadingRules.
The reading challenge also fits into Whitmer’s broader literacy push. Her 2027 budget recommendation includes what her office describes as the largest literacy investment in Michigan history, focused on early starts, proven classroom methods and extra help for students who need more support.
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That plan builds on several existing efforts, including free PreK expansion, more literacy coaches, phonics instruction, affordable before- and after-school programs, summer learning options and LETRS training for more than 6,000 educators.
Michigan’s Every Child Reads vision is built around three pieces: giving children a strong early start, bringing evidence-based reading instruction into classrooms, and adding more tutoring and small-group help during the school year and summer.
For students, though, the summer version starts with a much smaller step: open a book, follow the map, and keep going.