LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — The state of Michigan’s children is a tale of progress and decline, all told in the 2025 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book & Profiles, a sweeping review of childhood well-being from 2018 to 2024.

The good news first: Michigan children are healthier, according to the report.

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Teen births have dropped, infant mortality has declined, more toddlers are tested for lead, and health insurance coverage is reaching more families. But health is only one piece of a child’s future, and in education and family economics the story turns bleak.

Third-grade reading has slipped nearly 10% statewide. Eighth-grade math proficiency has plummeted almost 19%. In most counties, scores have worsened, not improved. And while child poverty dipped overall, food insecurity climbed by more than 20% in recent years, hitting 61 counties.

“This is a fragile time for Michigan kids and families,” Monique Stanton, president of the Michigan League for Public Policy, said. 

The Data Book’s authors argue that family budgets are straining under rising costs. The average monthly price of child care is up $261, for example, stretching parents in nearly every county. They also point out that nearly one in five Michigan children lived in poverty in 2023.

The report’s proposed solution is more government aid. Its 12-point “pro-kid agenda” calls for fully funding early childhood care, expanding the earned income tax credit, offering universal free community college, guaranteeing Medicaid coverage for young children, and increasing access to mental health services in schools.

But the real question is whether more federal programs solve the problem at all. Contrary to the Data Book’s agenda, expanding food stamps and welfare tends to deepen dependency. Families don’t need bigger bureaucracies; they need stability, steady work, and strong homes.