Literacy is on the decline in Michigan, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she wants to stop it in its tracks.
The governor shared during this year’s Michigan Literacy Summit that one in three students in Michigan tests below average.
Michigan used to rank higher, but nowit is 44th in the nation when it comes to reading at grade level. Whitmer says it’s due to multiple things, from decades of disinvestment in education to the pandemic.
“Literacy is directly correlated to higher incomes, greater productivity more innovation,” Whitmer said at the summit.
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For the rest of her term as governor, Whitmer says literacy will be her top priority.
“A literate population is more civically engaged, more empowered, more equal,” said Whitmer.
In a room filled with educators from across Michigan, the governor didn’t place blame for the problem, but encouragement and next steps to improve literacy, such as proper resources and training.
“They’re taught by skilled, qualified educators who are getting more and more of every year with scholarships, retention and recruitment programs,” said Whitmer.
Educators say support, such as funding, has helped them be better educators to their students. Teachers say helping them pay for expensive training has allowed them to reach their students in a new way.
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“All of these things accelerated my knowledge and just gave me hope for Michigan’s direction,” said educator David Pelc
However, Whitmer recognized it’s not just the knowledge they are teaching, it’s the ability to connect with the young minds, especially in a world that is ever changing.
“They are growing up against rapidly changing technology, rising mental health challenges, increasing political division, they see violence playing out, and its a uncertain economic environment,” said Whitmer.
From the state Capital, the governor emphasized the bills she has passed that help lead to improving literacy, such as free pre-K and school lunches.
Whitmer says she plans to offer advice to future budgets and leaders to continue to improve literacy in Michigan.
Moore was released on a $25,000 bond on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A new report has shed more light on the alleged relationship between former Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore and an alleged staff member.
Moore was fired on Wednesday (Dec. 10) due to the inappropriate relationship, and afterward, he reportedly went to the woman’s home and threatened to take his own life.
According to The Athletic, the woman was on the phone with her lawyer when Moore allegedly broke into her apartment.
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The lawyer told police she could hear screaming over the phone.
The report also stated the woman allegedly ended the relationship two days before Moore was fired, but he continued to call and send dozens of texts over the following days.
That behavior prompted the woman to come forward to the university, leading to his dismissal and subsequent arrest.
Moore was released on a $25,000 bond on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.
–> Michigan football interim head coach Biff Poggi talks team’s emotional state following Sherrone Moore saga
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–> President Trump appears to take jab at Michigan football while talking about NIL
–> Jim Harbaugh talks Sherrone Moore’s firing, arrest after former Michigan football understudy posts bond
–> Warde Manuel still athletic director after U of M Regents meet, per reports
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About the Author
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Brandon Carr
Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.
On Tuesday, multiple reports began to surface about Washington coach Jedd Fisch no longer being considered by the Wolverines as a candidate for the open head football coaching position at Michigan.
Although it’s still unclear as to why Michigan is seemingly moving off of him as a consideration, college football analyst Josh Pate seemed to confirm the reports on his show that Fisch is unlikely to be a factor in the Wolverines’ search moving forward.
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Dec 13, 2025; Inglewood, CA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch in the first half of the LA Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“There’s been some sentiment about Jedd Fisch,” Pate said. “There’s been some though this week—and granted, it’s only Tuesday (at the time of his show). But there’s been some thought this week that Jedd Fisch’s name may be climbing. And that’s because Michigan was taking a hard look at him.
“There’s been some sentiment today that maybe Jedd Fisch’s name has cooled. I think that’s accurate. And I think they’ve done a fairly good job, especially if you’re on The Fort (On3’s The Wolverine) on the message boards over there, I think they’ve done a fairly good job of detailing that. Not necessarily details that I think it’s important for us to dive into—it’s more minutiae based.
“The critical take home points here are—I don’t know that Jedd Fisch is going to be a factor in the Michigan search moving forward. He’s got himself a good job at Washington. It’s one of the better jobs in the Big Ten. In fact, Jedd Fisch may have one of the more underrated jobs in the country. So, it’s not like he needs to be desperate to leave Washington. But I think his name was a factor, I’m not so sure it’s going to be a factor moving forward.”
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Fisch’s history at Michigan and where Wolverines go from here
Fisch was considered a quality candidate for the job due to his extensive background in coaching, which includes four different NFL stops and coaching at seven different college programs.
He was the head coach at Arizona from 2021-23 and led a turnaround for the Wildcats under his watch before becoming the head coach of the Huskies in 2024.
In the 2015-16 season, Fisch served as Michigan’s passing game coordinator while also helping with the quarterbacks and wide receivers in his only year with the Wolverines under former head coach Jim Harbaugh.
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With Fisch apparently now likely off the board, it looks like the Wolverines will turn to other names of interest.
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Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer still seem to be the names that are being thrown around the most during Michigan’s search.
During his show, Pate discussed Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz as a name that is involved.
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Nov 29, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz greets players and staff as they enter the locker room prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
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Former Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who is now in the same role with Harbaugh’s LA Chargers, also seems like a possibility, but the NFL Chargers likely making the playoffs could make things tricky timeline wise to make that happen. Plus, Minter is very likely to be considered for an NFL job in the near future, meaning the Wolverines would likely have to compete against other NFL teams to hire him.
The clock is ticking with the winter transfer portal window beginning on Jan. 2, so whoever Michigan hires, ideally it would be done before that date comes up.
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Jim Harbaugh discusses texts to Sherrone Moore after firing from Michigan
Michigan football interim head coach says players feel ‘very betrayed’
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