Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) officials reported at a recent board committee meeting that the district’s early‑grade reading growth has slowed after the initial surge following the $94.4 million literacy lawsuit settlement. While the settlement funded hundreds of academic interventionists and expanded after‑school tutoring, the share of kindergarten‑through‑second‑grade students deemed proficient rose only 0.9 percentage points in the 2025‑26 school year.
Progress and setbacks
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti noted that the district’s first year of settlement spending produced a 4.5‑point increase in K‑2 proficiency, moving the rate from 22.8 % in 2023‑24 to 27.3 % in 2024‑25. However, the most recent data show a modest rise to 27.2 % in 2025‑26, falling short of the district’s own expectations.
Vitti emphasized that many students now sit just below grade level and require different, more targeted interventions than peers who lag two or more grades. He also highlighted a rise in students with undiagnosed disabilities and “extreme behaviors” who remain in general‑education classrooms while awaiting special‑education evaluations, further complicating instruction.
Comparisons with peer districts
MarGrady Research, the third‑party firm that analyzed the data, compared DPSCD with 12 similar districts nationwide. The comparison districts posted a 31.4 % proficiency rate for K‑2 readers in 2025‑26, slightly higher than Detroit’s 27.2 %.
Nevertheless, Detroit’s growth outpaced its peers over the 2022‑23 to 2025‑26 period, with an increase of 7.7 percentage points versus a 2.6‑point rise in the comparison group. The district translates that gain into roughly 35 extra days of learning for its students.
Funding deadline and next steps
The settlement money is slated to be exhausted after this school year, prompting board members to push for accelerated literacy improvements. Board chair LaTrice McClendon warned, “Our kids cannot afford to continue to go backwards: 80 % of our kids are not proficient.”
To stretch the remaining resources, DPSCD has hired 267 additional literacy interventionists, reduced K‑3 class sizes, offered merit‑pay incentives for teachers meeting literacy targets, and launched newcomer centers for English‑language learners. The district also provides Parent Academy sessions to help families support reading at home.
Challenges ahead
Chronic absenteeism remains a hurdle, with many early‑grade students missing 18 days or more each year. Summer learning loss also proved significant; DPSCD students experienced a 10‑point decline during the summer, whereas peers in some comparison districts showed modest gains.
Board members discussed options such as mandatory summer school for severely behind students, potential retention policies, and even paying students to attend summer programs. Superintendent Vitti cautioned that any retention decision would be made case‑by‑case.
Community response
Parents and community leaders have voiced concerns about the pace of progress but also praised the district’s commitment to a “culture of literacy.” Principals are now conducting more frequent classroom visits to provide feedback and ensure interventions are effectively reaching students who need them most.
As the settlement funds dwindle, DPSCD officials stress the importance of continued community involvement, targeted support for students with special‑education needs, and strategic use of remaining resources to sustain the early‑grade literacy gains achieved so far.
Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.
