Michigan Achievement Makes Little Progress

ROYAL OAK, MICH. (November 7, 2013) –  Michigan now ranks in the bottom third of all states in fourth-grade reading, fourth-grade math, and eighth-grade math, according to new data released today from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Michigan’s fourth-grade African-American students continue to rank last in math, compared to their counterparts around the country.

• According to the data released today:
• Only 31 percent of Michigan’s fourth-graders are proficient in reading – one percentage point worse than their performance a decade ago.
• And just 30 percent of eighth-grade Michiganders are proficient in math.
• 33 percent of Michigan’s eighth-graders are proficient in reading.
• The percentage of eighth-graders proficient in math decreased overall, for Latino, and for Asian students between 2011 and 2013.
• Only 7 percent of African-American eighth-graders and 14 percent of Latino eighth-graders are proficient in math.
• Just 10 percent of African-American fourth-graders are proficient in math.
• White fourth-grade reading performance in Michigan fell between 2011 and 2013.

The NAEP is our nation’s best indicator of how the achievement of students in Michigan stacks up against students in other states. In 2011, Education Trust – Midwest showed how Michigan’s low performance had not improved, leaving our state behind most of the rest of the country.

“Today’s release shows the profound need for Michigan state leaders, education leaders, teachers, parents and communities to think deeply about what we are doing as a state to raise all of our students’ learning, and what we can learn from other states that are making major gains for their children,” said Sarah Lenhoff, director of policy and research at the Education Trust-Midwest.  “Our students need it – and deserve it.”

The Education Trust-Midwest is Michigan’s only data-driven, non-partisan state-wide research and advocacy organization focused on what is best for Michigan students. Our mission is to work for the high achievement of all students, particularly low-income, African-American, Latino and American-Indian students in Michigan, and to provide honest, reliable information and expertise to our state’s families and policymakers.

www.edtrustmidwest.org

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