LANSING (WWJ) - Michigan students are climbing the national rankings when it comes to the latest reading tests.
Michigan rose to 32nd in the nation in fourth grade reading, up from 35th in 2017, and is also up to 28th in the nation in eighth grade reading, from 30th in 2017.
It's the second straight two-year testing cycle in which Michigan has gained in the national rankings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading test.
"It's great news for our students and families that we're making progress on literacy," Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. "We've made a step in the right direction, and now we must continue to prioritize funding for early literacy and teacher pay and build a more equitable school funding system. When we put our students and educators first, we can build a Michigan where everyone can get ahead."
The state's rankings in eighth grade math also improved, from 33rd in the nation to 28th, while the ranking in fourth grade math went from 38th in the nation to 42nd.