Michigan’s third-grade reading scores hit historic low despite record spending
The 2026 M-STEP results show 61.8% of Michigan third-graders scoring below proficient in English, the worst level in the test’s history, even as per-pupil funding reaches a record $10,300.
The 2026 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) indicates that 61.8% of third-grade students fell below the proficient threshold on the English language arts assessment, a marginal increase from 61.1% two years earlier and the poorest performance in the test’s 12-year record. Fourth-grade results showed a similar upward trend in low scores. Despite the state’s record per-student spending of $10,300, overall proficiency rates have stayed essentially unchanged since 2025.
State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko emphasized the need for a “Students First” approach and highlighted bipartisan backing for the Science of Reading methodology. The Michigan Forward Network, a conservative nonprofit, attributed the decline to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s priorities, while the Michigan Department of Education noted only minor variations across most test categories.
Why it matters
Michigan’s students are falling further behind in reading despite higher school funding, raising concerns about education policy effectiveness.
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