EdTrust-Midwest statement on NAEP results

The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are deeply concerning for Michigan students and families. Nationally, twelfth-grade math and reading scores have declined to historic lows, and just 31 percent of eighth-graders reached proficiency in science.  These national findings follow M-STEP scores in Michigan that show troubling gaps in student achievement, particularly among young readers. 

These results are not just numbers on a page—they represent real students whose futures are at risk. The declines are especially troubling for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, English learners, and students with disabilities, who continue to be disproportionately impacted. 

Michigan has taken some positive steps in recent years, including the passage of early literacy and dyslexia legislation. But these results make clear that we must do much more. State leaders should prioritize equitable investments in research-backed approaches to literacy instruction and math supports, address rising chronic absenteeism, and ensure resources are directed to the students and schools that need them most. 

At EdTrust–Midwest, our commitment is to ensure every Michigan child has access to a high-quality education, regardless of race, income, or zip code. We urge policymakers at both the state and federal level to treat these results as a call to action, not retreat. Our students cannot wait.