LANSING — Data released by the state Wednesday shows continuing academic struggles for Michigan students — but experts say that it’s not all bad news, as several key figures continue to upward trends.
The Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP, is an annual standardized test that measures reading and math proficiency for third through seventh grade students.
Data from the test shows improvements in several important areas — attendance rates for the full student body and chronically absent students both increased, along with the statewide four-year graduation rate. But all three figures remained below pre-pandemic peaks.
“It seems so far away in the rearview mirror now, but when we look at kids who are in the third grade now, these are kids who started school behind a computer screen and really started behind the eight ball,” said Thomas Morgan, spokesperson for the Michigan Education Association.
Statewide, third grade reading proficiency has mostly been on the decline since 2015, when the age group peaked at 50% proficiency. That figure declined to 45.1% in 2019, and has steadily decreased since the pandemic. It now sits at 39.6%, the lowest since 2015.
Fourth grade reading scores dropped, while fifth through seventh grade proficiency saw a rise from last year but remained below pre-pandemic levels. Eighth graders improved their PSAT reading scores compared to 2019.
Morgan stressed that standardized tests aren’t always the best measures of educational attainment — families with greater resources are often more able to get their children individual assistance or tutoring on specific topics.
“We really need to make sure that we come together as communities to support our local schools, to support our students and support our educators,” he said. “To make sure that every student has an opportunity to live out their dreams and get a great job after graduation, or go to college — and it’s up to us as the adults to make sure that our schools have the resources to make that happen.”
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Publish date : 2024-08-29 10:51:00
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