A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
The 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book reveals that Michigan ranks once again in the bottom 10 states for education, demonstrating the need for more investments in our schools and students.
One area where we saw the greatest declines was in eighth-grade math achievement, where the share of students scoring proficient on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) decreased by nearly 9% from 2019 to 2022. Proficiency in math by the end of middle school is important because it increases the chances of on-time graduation and prepares students with basic math skills needed into adulthood.
As a former math teacher, I know how skeptical students can be of the relevance of math to their future lives and careers, but the skills learned in a math classroom extend far beyond the content in the curriculum. Success in math is as much about problem-solving as it is about the problem that must be solved, and there’s nothing quite as rewarding as seeing the moment a student works their way through a challenging problem and a concept begins to click. Math builds these kinds of critical thinking skills that can be applied in many fields, including in careers that might not even exist yet.
Many of the fastest growing occupations require math skills. Presently, Michigan is home to 4,700 data scientists earning $96,500 a year on average as well as 3,090 information security analysts earning over $108,000 a year on average, but just 15 years ago the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not even track employment in these emerging occupations. Success in these and other career paths won’t be about mastering the content of today, but about having the ability to solve problems and confront new challenges independently in the future.
An analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the drop in math scores between 2019 and 2022 could result in $900 billion in lost income for 48 million pandemic-era students. At present, our math scores on international assessments are below the average for advanced economies as well as for many emerging economies, including Hungary and Vietnam.
While the NAEP is administered only in alternate years, students in Michigan also take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) in eighth grade every year to measure math achievement. PSAT data for 2023 also reveals an 11% decline in Michigan overall in the share of students proficient in eighth-grade math.
Pandemic-era disruptions undoubtedly had a role in Michigan’s declining math proficiency, but the impacts were not equally felt. Virtual and hybrid instruction during this time period exacerbated disparities by race and ethnicity as well as by economic status. Black students, for example, saw double the declines in eighth-grade math proficiency compared to white students. Similarly, students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch–a marker of economic insecurity–saw nearly double the declines as students who are not eligible.
These disparities point to the need to ensure all kids arrive at school ready to learn, because children’s academic success depends on more than what happens in the classroom. Equipping students to learn means ensuring their lives are safe and stable even before they walk through the doors, with access to healthy foods, a safe way to get to school, and resources like tutoring and mental health services.
Michigan can make smart investments to reduce inequities in educational achievement. Access to intensive tutoring, for example, can be funded in part by allocating the state’s remaining pandemic-era relief funds. Fully funding the Opportunity Index–which allocates additional school aid dollars to schools with larger shares of economically disadvantaged students–will ensure schools can meet the needs of all students. Preserving school aid funds for public schools and ending the practice of diverting school aid funds to higher education can further ensure all schools are sufficiently funded.
If we want our children to succeed in a global economy, we must do everything in our power to ensure they have the skills necessary to compete.
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.
