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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The 35th edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's <i><a href="https://www.aecf.org/resources/2024-kids-count-data-book">KIDS COUNT<sup>®</sup> Data Book<span style="font-style:normal"> </span></a></i>examines
the unprecedented declines in student math and reading proficiency <a href="https://www.aecf.org/blog/pandemic-learning-loss-and-absence-threaten-economy-and-young-peoples-futures" title="Pandemic learning loss and absence threaten economy and young people's futures">brought
on by the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on education</a>. The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals that between 2019 and 2022, fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores plummeted, representing decades of lost progress.
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for action to address the growing academic disparities among U.S. students.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Of note, Michigan ranks 34<sup>th</sup> in the country when it comes to overall child well being, according to the 2024 data book, and Michigan is in the bottom ten states
for education for the second year in a row.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5">Cathy Lancaster</span></b><span style="color:#2E74B5;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="color:black">Youth Services Coordinator</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="color:black">Library of Michigan<br>
702 W. Kalamazoo St.<br>
Lansing, MI 48915</span><br>
<i><span style="color:black;background:white">My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See </span>
</i><a href="http://www.mypronouns.org/"><i><span style="color:#0563C1;background:white">www.mypronouns.org</span></i></a><i><span style="color:black;background:white"> to learn more<b>.</b></span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">LancasterC5@michigan.gov</span></a><span style="color:#1F497D">
</span><b><span style="color:black">|</span></b><span style="color:black"> 517-335-8129
<b>|</b> </span><a href="http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan</span></a><span style="color:#1F497D">
<br>
</span><span style="color:black">Follow us: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/"><span style="color:#0563C1">Facebook</span></a><span style="color:black">
<b>|</b> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/libraryofmich"><span style="color:#0563C1">Twitter</span></a><b><span style="color:#1F497D">
</span><span style="color:black">|</span></b><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/"><span style="color:#0563C1">Instagram</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Join the <a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/miyouth">
<b><span style="color:#006EB6;background:white;text-decoration:none">MiYouth</span></b></a>
<span style="color:black;background:white">Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services.</span><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="197" height="38" style="width:2.052in;height:.3958in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DABBF1.85422CF0" alt="Michigan.gov/Vote logo
Description automatically generated"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at
<a href="https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/"><span style="color:#0563C1">Michigan.gov/Vote</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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