Still Stalled: 2022 State of Michigan Education Report
Michigan’s education performance is projected to position the state’s youngest students farther behind other states’ students for early reading by 2030 if Michigan does not change its performance trajectory, according to a new report released today.
In 2030, Michigan is projected to be 39th in the nation for fourth-grade reading performance — down from its current ranking of 32nd — and 28th for eighth-grade math performance compared to other states, according to analyses of national assessment data highlighted in the report, Still Stalled: 2022 State of Michigan Education Report. Between 2003 and 2019, Michigan’s performance in fourth-grade reading — an important predictor of a child’s future academic success and life outcomes — remains largely stagnant on the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) while leading education states made significant progress. Progress on 8th grade math also lagged progress of leading states.
National data show the state’s longstanding stagnation in student achievement comes as early pandemic results from the M-STEP suggest that student achievement growth slowed overall for Michigan students – with the greatest impact on underserved students.
The report comes as a broad and diverse statewide coalition of business, civil rights and civic leaders calls on state leaders to invest in and accelerate the educational recovery of Michigan’s students. It also comes amid growing concerns about Michigan’s economic competitiveness and its connection to the state’s educational outcomes.
“While these results are clearly troubling, they also represent an opportunity for our state to create a ‘new normal,’ where every student has the opportunity to achieve and where students with the greatest needs receive the funding and resources they need to succeed,” said Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest.