M-STEP Results Demonstrate Need for Urgent Action to Improve Outcomes for All Students

“Every Michigan student is capable of meeting high expectations when they have access to the resources, instruction, and support they need to thrive. Yet, today’s troubling M-STEP results again demonstrate that our state is not delivering on its promise to provide opportunity and access to all students, particularly students of color, English learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-income backgrounds.

“These results should serve as an urgent call to action for state leaders. To ensure that Michigan is a leading state in education that provides a gold-standard educational experience for every student, our leaders must act now to advance new and existing research-backed policies.

“That work must start with sustained, equitable investment. Policymakers laudably established the Opportunity Index in 2023, a funding mechanism that directs additional resources to school districts based on their concentration of poverty to ensure students have the funding to support their needs. But the Index remains underfunded by $1.31 billion. These funding gaps have consequences, as today’s results demonstrate. Students from low-income backgrounds continue to perform below their peers, with only 25% proficient in third grade reading and 19% proficient in seventh grade math. State leaders must fulfill their promise to fully fund the Index to the levels in state law, so schools serving students with the greatest needs have the strong and diverse educators, academic supports, and learning opportunities their students deserve.

“State leaders should also ensure that English learners are receiving needed supports. The M-STEP results show too many of these students falling behind: less than 25% are proficient in third grade reading and only 12% demonstrate proficiency in seventh grade math. Thanks to strong leadership at The Michigan Department of Education and within the legislature, the School Aid budget includes increased funding and support for English learners; however, our students require more supports to have the best opportunity to succeed.

The M-STEP also reveals that students with disabilities performed at the lowest proficiency rates in third grade reading and seventh grade math among student subgroups, which indicates that they are not receiving the educational supports they need to thrive. To address these gaps, the Legislature must implement the recommendations of the Michigan Blueprint for Special Education Finance Reform. This includes following the intent language in this year’s budget that calls for adopting a weighted funding formula based on student needs.

“Funding alone is not enough. The state should put in place fiscal accountability and transparency systems so that the dollars reach the students in their schools.

“Michigan must also capitalize on the current bi-partisan momentum to improve early literacy outcomes. State leaders should ensure that local districts are implementing the Reading for All legislation with fidelity, which includes strong supports for students with characteristics of dyslexia, while advancing other research-backed strategies grounded in the science of reading. We applaud the recent legislation that was signed into law by Governor Whitmer that requires elementary teachers to be trained in the science of reading — a great first step. Today’s M-STEP results reinforce the urgency to take additional measures which include equipping educators with high-quality professional learning and pushing local districts to use proven instructional materials, screenings, and interventions to guarantee that students receive effective support as early as possible.

“Michigan students deserve the best education possible — a gold standard that demonstrates the promise of public education. These data, while extremely troubling, are also vitally important, revealing where we need to urgently target our support and resources. We have our charge. This is the moment to take bold action and advance policies that expand opportunity so that every student — regardless of their race, ethnicity, economic background, or ZIP code — has the opportunity to succeed.

“We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers, partners, and allies to ensure these goals are met.”