EdTrust-Midwest Report Identifies Michigan Literacy and Math Gaps

The State of Michigan Education Report published by EdTrust-Midwest asserts that all students in the state should be able to obtain a high-quality education that readies them for achievements in academics, higher education, and future endeavors.

Entitled Going for Gold: Setting the Standard for Michigan Achievement, the publication assesses the state’s advancement by reviewing 23 distinct metrics grouped into five core categories: academic outcomes, college readiness and success, student well-being, opportunity to learn, and fair funding.

Michigan has made meaningful progress in recent years by improving high school graduation rates, expanding college affordability, and increasing investments in public education. However, significant challenges remain across the public education system.

Reading proficiency is met by just 38.2% of the state’s third graders, while seventh-grade math proficiency stands at only 33.3%. Dual enrollment participation remains below 10%, while chronic absenteeism continues to present a major hurdle for districts statewide.

Resource disparities compound these academic hurdles. Schools average approximately 565 students per counselor, which is more than double the recommended ratio. Michigan’s teacher workforce does not reflect the racial diversity of its students: students of color make up 38% of the student population, while teachers of color comprise only 13% of the workforce.

Funding gaps persist across districts as well. Districts educating the greatest proportions of low-income students are allocated about $1,728 less per student compared to those with the smallest proportions of such students.

To address these gaps, the report outlines five policy priorities for state leaders: