FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. ET
Contact: Laura Millard Ross | lauramr@mlpp.org | 517-281-1084
Michigan ranks 34th in 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book as Michigan League for Public Policy urges focus on supporting thriving kids and families; state continues to rank in the bottom 10 states for education at 42nd
New scoring index to increase accountability by showing how Michigan’s policies and investment affect children’s daily lives
Lansing, Mich. — Coming in at 34th, Michigan continues to rank in the bottom half of states in child well-being according to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book — a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids are faring nationwide. The data show Michigan leaders must do more to ensure children growing up in the state have the support they need to thrive in their classrooms and families raising children have the financial security to meet their basic needs.
For the first time this year, states received a comprehensive score (from 0 to 1,000) in the Data Book, not just a ranking. The scores track 16 indicators in four domains — economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors — over a five-year period from 2019 to 2024. The new scoring system shows whether policies and public investment are actually improving children’s lives, not merely how states compare to each other. Michigan received a score of 527, below the national score of 547, with the lowest scores in the education and economic well-being domains at 248 and 549 respectively.
In addition to low comprehensive scores in education and economic well-being, Michigan continues to rank in the bottom 10 states in education at 42nd and in the bottom half of states in economic well-being at 32nd. The state’s highest score continues to be in health, ranking in the top half of states at 21st, due in part to Michigan having one of the lowest uninsured rates for child healthcare in the country. The comprehensive scores in the domains of health and family and community factors were both improvements from the previous year at 662 and 651 respectively; however, Michigan still ranks in the bottom half of states in family and community factors at 27th.
Digging deeper into the educational data, a stark picture emerges: 56% of young children are not in school, a rate that has worsened since 2019 despite significant investments in universal pre-K in recent years. Additionally, 3 in 4 fourth grade students are not proficient in reading, with reading proficiency shown to be 10% worse than pre-pandemic levels, and 3 in 4 eighth grade students are not proficient in math, with math proficiency also 10% worse than pre-pandemic levels. And 17% of Michigan high school students did not graduate on time in 2024. This is an improvement over 2019, but remains worse than the national average.
“Education continues to stand out as the area where we most need to improve when looking at this year’s data,” said Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, Michigan’s member of the Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT network. “The data underscores the urgency of Michigan lawmakers to prioritize education in their budget and policy decisions over the coming year, including strengthening early childhood education as well as meeting the needs of K-12 students. As our educational system continues to face federal threats, it’s also important for short-sighted property tax cuts proposals that would strip funding away from schools be voted down.”
In its 37th year of publication, the KIDS COUNT® Data Book provides reliable statewide numbers to help leaders see where progress is being made, where greater support is needed and which strategies are making a difference. The Michigan League for Public Policy encourages lawmakers and officials in Michigan to use this detailed information to unite across party lines and respond with initiatives that invest in young people. By offering a local road map, the Data Book equips policymakers, advocates and communities with the information they need to make decisions that help kids and young people thrive.
“This year’s data, including the new comprehensive scores, should be used as a guide in improving child outcomes for our youngest generations. Education is one area where state decisionmakers must continue to focus, but economic well-being is also important, especially considering that 18% of children in Michigan live in poverty. This is worse than the national rate, and poverty among Black and Hispanic children is the highest at 37% and 25% respectively. At a time when costs are on the rise and basic needs, such as food and healthcare, are being stripped away from families by the federal government, state lawmakers must work together to mitigate these harms. The League’s people-centered budget priorities are a great place to start,” said Anne Kuhnen, Kids Count policy director at the Michigan League for Public Policy.
“We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults. Strong schools and improved economic security are two of those fundamental needs. So are stable homes, nutritious food, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to learn, play and grow. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, especially now as Michiganders are really struggling to make ends meet. These kinds of investments will foster long-term gains like employment and economic growth,” said Stanton.
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RELEASE INFORMATION
The 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book will be available at www.aecf.org/databook. Journalists interested in creating maps, graphs and rankings in stories about the Data Book can use the KIDS COUNT Data Center at datacenter.aecf.org/.
ABOUT THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION
The Annie E. Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the nation’s young people by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. For more information, visit www.aecf.org. KIDS COUNT is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way. It is the home of Kids Count in Michigan.
Betsy Zobl-Tar 
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
