Michigan third-grade reading scores hit historic low

Michigan third-grade reading scores have declined to 38.2% proficiency in the most recent Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP), down from 38.9% the previous year. This represents the lowest proficiency level for third graders in the 12-year history of the exam.

Proficiency rates for students in grades 3 through 8 in reading also fell to 44%, according to analysis of M-STEP and PSAT 8/9 results. In mathematics, only 35.5% of students in grades 3-8 demonstrated proficiency.

State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko, who took leadership of the Michigan Department of Education last December, stated that proficiency rates are not where they should be and emphasized the need for steady improvement across all subjects and grades. The decline occurs despite a decade of efforts to boost literacy through teacher training, literacy coaches, and previous legislative attempts to retain struggling students.