Education
- Many children enter kindergarten unprepared each year, immediately falling behind peers who had early learning experiences.
- Michigan’s K–12 system ranks 44th in the nation.
- Roughly 75% of 3rd and 8th graders are not proficient in reading or mathematics.
- Chronic absenteeism is widespread by middle school age.
Childcare and Workforce Equity
- 70% of Michigan ZIP codes are childcare deserts—no licensed care available at any rate.
- Where childcare does exist, it is often unaffordable and inadequate for working families.
- Childcare workers earn an average of $13–14/hour, leading to severe staffing shortages, high turnover, absenteeism, and reduced quality.
- Lead pre‑K teachers earn salaries 30% below K–12 teachers, discouraging qualified educators from entering or staying in early childhood roles.
- Women—who disproportionately shoulder caregiving—face reduced employment and educational opportunities. Michigan has one of the lowest rates of women’s workforce participation in the nation.
Economy and Livability
- Michigan loses an estimated $3 billion annually due to inadequate childcare, worker shortages, and absenteeism.
- The state’s population is aging faster than neighboring Great Lakes states. Students come for Michigan’s excellent universities but do not stay after graduation.
- Families deciding where to live and work heavily weigh a state’s birth‑to‑12 education quality. Michigan’s 44th-place ranking is a deterrent for families with options.
Continuing Poverty
- Michigan is home to two of the ten poorest large cities in the nation: Flint and Detroit.
- Living‑wage jobs are scarce, especially for women of color with limited educational opportunities.
- Persistent, intergenerational poverty drives high public spending on welfare programs without addressing root causes or creating pathways out of hardship.
