Education policy advocates say Michigan is not doing enough to improve student literacy rates. The 2019 M-STEP assessment scores are in…and the data shows just 45-point-1 percent of Michigan’s third graders are proficient in English language arts. That’s up just seven-tenths of a percent from 2018.
By law, third graders who fail to achieve reading proficiency on the Spring 2020 M-STEP will be retained. Brian Gutman with the nonpartisan research group Education Trust Michigan says the figures are alarming.
“This should be the wake-up call that we’re not yet near serving every Michigan student well, and making sure that retention isn’t a reality for students because they’re actually prepared to succeed," Gutman said.
Critics say Michigan is chronically underinvesting in public education. A 2018 Michigan State University study found the state ranked dead last in revenue growth for K-12 schools.