Michigan’s State Highlights

Summary of Grades

Michigan scores below average in three of the four graded policy categories in Quality Counts.

The state’s best showing is in standards and accountability. It does particularly well on indicators related to assessment and school accountability. Michigan has assessments aligned to state standards in the four core subject areas at every grade span, with the exception of social studies tests for elementary students.

Michigan ranks near the bottom of the nation for efforts to improve teacher quality. The state does not finance professional development or mentoring for new teachers. It also lacks a number of measures related to holding schools and teacher-preparation programs accountable for teacher quality. For example, its school report cards do not include any of the teacher-qualification data tracked in Quality Counts.

Michigan’s below-average school climate grade can be attributed, in part, to weak policies related to student engagement, school safety, and school facilities. However, the state fares well in the area of choice and autonomy, where its charter school law has received the highest possible rating from the Center for Education Reform.

Michigan again falls below the national average in the area of resource equity. Its score on the wealth-neutrality measure, for example, signals that wealthier districts in the state tend to have higher per-pupil funding levels than do poorer districts.

Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.