reading

Michigan has spent a decade trying to improve how children learn to read. The latest results suggest there is still a long way to go.

In recent years, Michigan has expanded its free school meal program, spent more on schools and literacy coaches, and changed its literacy curriculum. Still, test scores are down.

Michigan's third grade reading scores have dropped again, with only 38.2% of students proficient in English Language Arts. It's the lowest score in the 12-year history of the M-STEP exam.

For many in Michigan, the electric bill is an unaffordable expense. Today on Stateside, a reporter provided insight into the state's efforts to help, including details on a new approach — and who stands to benefit from it. Also on the show, a young adult author joined us to discuss his debut novel, which tells the story of two young people and the mystery they aim to unravel.

Unscathed by pandemic-era school closures, the nation's 9-year-olds showed progress in math and reading. It's a different story for 13-year-olds, however.

The law was repealed a couple of years ago while the legislature was under Democratic control. It required kids to read proficiently by third grade, or face being held back in school.

Michigan's reading scores have failed to recover from the pandemic and are falling behind other states. The governor's Every Child Reads Champions Council will be made up of people with backgrounds in education, community organizing, and business.

Reading text of a book while listening to the audiobook is gaining steam among online book communities.

The governor is calling for $625 million to support literacy efforts in her budget proposal. That money is meant for buying new learning materials, hiring more tutors, and training teachers.

For decades, parents were told to help children build willpower like a muscle, to resist things like junk food and too much time on their screens. But new research suggests a better strategy.