LANSING — This week, results for the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) revealed that only 44 percent of students in grades 3-8 passed the English language arts portion of the exam, down from 48 percent in 2015. In light of these alarming results, state Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Township) issued the following statement:
“The latest M-STEP scores released this week have one clear takeaway: Michigan’s literacy crisis is only growing worse. For the fourth year in a row, fewer than half of Michigan 3rd-8th graders are reading at grade level. Right now, this administration is playing a dangerous game of ‘wait and see,’ while every year more students are entering high school and college unprepared for the challenges that lay ahead. And with the threat of widespread third-grade retention looming, the need for action and results is increasingly urgent.
“Last year, my colleagues and I offered a plan — the Better Outcomes in Literacy and Development (BOLD) education package — aimed at addressing our literacy crisis by expanding access to quality child care, investing in early education programs, and supporting early and effective reading interventions. We cannot afford to watch our students continue to struggle when there are proposals on the table that could help. I urge House leadership to take immediate action on the BOLD package and make student success a priority when we return to session next week.”