Troy, MI – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Baker Middle School in Troy on Thursday (March 5, 2026) to promote literacy and highlight National School Breakfast Week.
During the visit, Whitmer joined students and school officials while emphasizing the importance of reading skills and access to nutritious meals for student success.
March is also recognized across the state as “March is Reading Month,” an initiative proclaimed by the governor to encourage literacy among Michigan students.
However, Michigan’s reading performance continues to rank among the worst in the country.
Key literacy statistics in Michigan:
- Michigan ranks 44th in the nation for 4th-grade reading proficiency according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
- Only about 25%–28% of Michigan fourth-grade students are considered proficient readers.
- Michigan is now in the bottom 10 states nationally for reading performance.
- Reading scores have declined from 2015 through 2024 despite major state investments in literacy programs.
- Michigan now trails states that historically ranked lower in education performance, including Mississippi and Louisiana.
Improving literacy outcomes has been a major focus of state education initiatives, but the latest national testing results show Michigan students continuing to struggle with reading proficiency.