Michigan education continues to struggle as Kids Count Data book is released

LANSING,Mich.—ThelatestKidsCountDataBookrevealstroublingtrendsforMichigan’seducationsystem,withthestateranking44thineducationand33rdinoverallchildwell-being. Thereporthighlightsadeclineinfourth-gradereadingandeighth-grademathscores,with75%offourthgradersnotproficientinreadingandonlyoneinfoureighthgradersproficientinmath. “Wesawduringthepandemicjustthehugeimpactthatthosedisruptionstoclasstimeinschoolclasstimereallyhadonstudents,”saidanunnamedsource.“Butofcourseit’simportanttorememberthateverystatewascopingwiththoseissuesandsomestateshavealreadystartedtoseesomeimprovementsinspendandMichiganisnotoneofthem.” AnneKuhnenfromtheMichiganLeagueforPublicPolicyemphasizedtheneedforinvestmentinearlyeducation.“Itreallytellsusthatweneedtobeinvestingmoreintheseearlyyears,thiscriticalperiodwhenstudentsaregainingtheliteracyskillsthatthey’regoingtoneed,notjustthroughouttheiracademicca