The state argues that it can’t be held responsible for illiteracy. The state motion to dismiss reads: “While pointing the finger at Defendants, Plaintiffs ignore many other factors that contribute to illiteracy, such as poverty, parental involvement (or lack thereof), medical problems, intellectual limitations, domestic violence, trauma, and other numerous influences.” Citing ongoing litigation, the state has declined to comment on this story.
“There’s research that shows that it’s more difficult to educate students who experience these sort of high poverty issues … but just because it’s hard doesn’t mean that it’s not achievable,” said Michael Griffith, senior school finance analyst at Education Commission of the States, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works with state policymakers to improve public education nationwide.
Griffith says other districts don’t struggle in the same ways Detroit does. “There are districts around the country that have high poverty rates, that have low education achievement rates in their area, yet still are able able to graduate their students, to get them up to state standards,” he said. Literacy is a much lower benchmark than many state standards, Griffith said. He compares Detroit to other school districts with high poverty rates – Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia – all with better test scores than Detroit.
The state of Michigan’s assertion that it’s too hard to trace illiteracy to a failing on the part of the state-run public school system doesn’t sit well with some teachers who work in Detroit public schools. They said parents and students are engaged, and with the right resources, anyone can learn.
Full economic revitalization is not going to be achieved when the illiteracy rates are so high,” said Savit. “Literacy is foundational.”
Detroit’s once-vibrant economy has struggled for decades. The unemployment rate is just under 8 percent, nearly twice the national average. Even as new businesses come to the city – bringing with them new construction projects and jobs – Detroiters are often disqualified from open positions, most frequently because of lack of literacy and numeracy skills, failed drug tests and lack of transportation
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