Michigan is not on track to be a top ten state in K-12 education by 2030, according to a report from the Education Trust-Midwest found.
The annual report Opportunity For All says that Michigan is currently 35th in the nation in fourth grade reading and 33rd in eighth grade math.
By 2030, Michigan is expected to be worse in each category measured in the study.
The report also says Michigan is bottom ten in school funding equity, which means there is a large gap between the amount of money wealthy school districts and poor school districts get.
By 2030, Michigan is expected to be worse in each category measured in the study.
Amber Arellano, the Executive Director of the Education Trust-Midwest, says schools in Michigan that are struggling the most need more investment.
“But we know from lessons learned from around the country over the last 20 to 30 years that more money alone does not necessarily improve outcomes, especially for students of color and low-income students,” Arellano said.
States like Massachusetts and Florida were among those that she compared to Michigan in this regard, but she says school districts also need more accountability measures or systems of continuing improvement.
“That could mean public reporting and goal setting to let parents know how they are doing compared to peers around the country,” she said.
Arellano says education is not a partisan issue, but the current political divide provides an opportunity for the state’s public education to improve.
“Because both parties are pushing the other towards sort of the evidence based strategies in the middle, which are actually what’s best for students, especially vulnerable students,” she said.
