The 2024 Kids Count Data Book, recently released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Michigan League for Public Policy, paints a concerning picture of child well-being in Michigan.
Michigan has slipped two spots from last year, now ranking 34th among all states in overall child well-being. This decline illustrates the urgent need for action to improve the lives of our youngest residents and strengthen the future of our state.
The report highlights several key areas where Michigan is lagging, including economic well-being and education.
Economic well-being is a foundational pillar of child welfare. To improve in this area, Michigan policymakers must focus on creating an environment that allows for more job creation. This involves attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of our local economies.
The Legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer are pushing us in the wrong direction with recent new laws that repeal our state’s landmark right-to-work law, reinstate the antiquated prevailing wage law, and institute draconian, one-size-fits-all, energy mandates.
Education is another critical area identified in the report, and the news is unfortunately not good there either. Michigan compiled its worst ranking ever in education. Our state now ranks 41 out of 50 states based on the most recent school year data available, according to media reports.
Our policymakers have not set a good example when it comes to ensuring excellence and accountability. Elected officials this session repealed a law requiring the state to publish easy-to-understand A-F letter grades for all Michigan schools based on each school’s performance, making our schools less accountable and transparent to parents and taxpayers.
They also repealed our state’s third grade reading law that required schools to take accountability to ensure all students have the best chance at success in life.
Michigan’s future economic success hinges on our ability to produce a well-educated workforce. This starts with ensuring that all children have access to high-quality K-12 public school systems that prepare students for college and careers.
To make Michigan a Top Ten state, we must commit to an approach that addresses the challenges highlighted in the Kids Count Data Book. By investing in our children today, we are laying the foundation for a more prosperous and competitive Michigan tomorrow.
Please contact your state representatives and senators and tell them to implement policies that will improve our children’s well-being. Together, we can ensure that every child in Michigan has the opportunity to thrive.
