The May 31, 2026 financial update includes a detailed summary of COVID‑related and state categorical grants, including 35j Early Literacy, 35m Literacy Supports, 31aa Mental Health and School Safety, and 23g MI Kids Back‑on‑Track. The curriculum and instruction narrative reports that the Improvement of Instruction budget is at 101% and notes heavy use of categorical funds to purchase Collaborative Classroom and Great Minds Arts & Letters materials and other resources that support early literacy and address learning loss. The CFO cautions that fewer categorical grant opportunities are expected in 2026‑27, meaning the district will need to prioritize and sustain literacy and intervention initiatives with more limited external funding.Vendors providing evidence‑based literacy curriculum, assessments, tutoring/intervention platforms, and professional development can leverage this context to help Dexter design sustainable models—showing how their solutions can flex between grant‑funded pilots and longer‑term general fund support as categorical dollars decline.

The district has used TRAILS, Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking, and Safer Smarter Kids in social‑emotional contexts, indicating familiarity with research‑based programs; they are also piloting IXL at Creekside for math and reading support.