For Immediate Release
October 9, 2018
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517-487-5436
With third-grade reading law, kids of color will face greater risk of being held back
LANSING—While the state’s overall M-STEP results dominated headlines last month, a new report released today by the Michigan League for Public Policy shows kids of color are struggling even more than their peers to meet literacy benchmarks and face greater barriers to academic progress. Paired with the state’s third-grade reading law, which takes effect in 2020 and is more stringent about grade retention for kids who can’t read, students of color will begin falling further behind.
The report, Race, place and policy matter in education, also exposes the challenges facing kids who are living in poverty and the growing issue of teacher diversity in Michigan. This is the latest piece in the League’s ongoing work to examine racial equity and disparities caused directly or indirectly by state and federal public policies.
“Students of color and those from families with lower incomes may be having a hard time passing a test, but it’s the lawmakers and policies that are supposed to serve them that are failing,” said Gilda Z. Jacobs, President and CEO for the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Policymakers need to better understand how their decisions are creating or perpetuating disparities, and the third-grade reading law is a prime example of that.”
According to the report, more than 8 of every 10 African American students and two-thirds of Latinx students are not proficient in English/Language Arts by the end of third grade based on the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP), the state’s most recent standardized test. Currently, African American children are nearly twice as likely to be retained in grade as their White peers, and the stakes of failing to read proficiently by third grade have risen even further as Michigan prepares to implement the new “Read by Grade Three Law” in 2020 that will make it more difficult for students to progress to fourth grade if they are not reading at grade level.
Children from families that struggle financially are also less likely to be proficient readers. Economically disadvantaged children are nearly twice as likely to not be reading proficiently by the end of third grade—a reality that decreases the likelihood of school success and sets the stage for another generation of young people who cannot find a foothold in the workforce.
The report also touches on teacher diversity—or the lack thereof—and the additional challenges it poses for kids of color, especially as their population numbers increase. One-third of Michigan students are children of color, and the percentage of students of Latinx, Asian and multiracial heritage is growing.
Despite growing evidence that children of color thrive when they have teachers and role models whom they can identify with racially and ethnically, Michigan teachers do not reflect the student body. While 1 of every 3 Michigan students is a child of color, more than 90 percent of teachers and 80 percent of school administrators are White. And the diversity of Michigan’s teaching workforce has not grown over the last decade, with the percentage of African American teachers actually declining.
Research shows that African American primary-school students matched to same-race teachers perform better on standardized tests and are more favorably perceived by their teachers. In addition, assigning African American boys to an African American teacher in the third, fourth or fifth grades significantly reduces the probability that they will ultimately drop out of high school—particularly for boys with the most economic disadvantages.
“Due to historic and systemic barriers, there are racial disparities in nearly every aspect of public policy, and our schools are no exception,” Jacobs said. “The League will continue to draw attention to these inequities in order to get policymakers to first understand them, and then work to remedy them.”
Racial disparities are a problem in higher education as well. A national report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released last week found that Michigan was one of the worst states in the country for college affordability for students of color.
To achieve equity, state policies and funding must fully recognize the higher costs of educating children in high-poverty schools, as well as address the barriers children of color encounter from the time of their birth. The Race, place and policy matter in education report’s recommendations for moving forward are to:
- Consider the impact of potential budget and policy decisions on children of color and low-income communities.
- Invest in efforts to reduce poverty and ameliorate the impact of poverty on learning.
- Expand access to high-quality early learning and care programs.
- Increase supports for early literacy.
- Provide K-12 public schools the resources required to address the educational needs of children of color and those living with families with low incomes.
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
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.
