As part of the FY 2025–2026 Michigan School Aid Budget, the Michigan Legislature provided funding to Wayne State University to conduct the Michigan School Census 2026: A Michigan Literacy and School Library Study.
The first step in this statewide effort is contact verification. On August 11, 2026, the lead administrator for each Michigan public school will receive a personalized email from noreply@alchemer.com asking them to simply verify or update the contact information for the staff member best positioned to complete the Census later this fall. This staff member should be the person who is most familiar with the school’s library services.
Please watch for this email and, if needed, check your spam or junk folder.
It is very important that every school replies, so that every school is included in the census.
Every school will be invited. Every response matters.
The Michigan School Census 2026 questionnaire is scheduled to be distributed beginning September 15, 2026, using a unique school-specific invitation to the person whose contact information has been provided in the verification survey.
As a thank you for participating, respondents who complete the September Census will be eligible to receive a $25 electronic gift card (details will be provided with the survey invitation).
Every Michigan public school should participate in the census—including schools with fully staffed libraries, schools with shared or limited services, schools without a dedicated librarian, and schools without a traditional school library. Every school’s experience is essential to developing a clearer statewide understanding of school library and literacy services across Michigan to help determine future policy and funding.
Questions? Please contact:
Kathy Lester
Adjunct Faculty
Wayne State University
ag7585@wayne.edu