July 8, 2013 | Detroit Free Press
For several years, Detroit has been engaged in efforts to improve the performance of its public schools. Indeed, K-12 reform of one kind or another has been going on for decades. There are surely many factors that can contribute to poor educational outcomes. However, there is one that’s not in doubt: lead poisoning.
Researchers from the University of Michigan and University of South Florida, the Detroit Public Schools and other partner organizations have shown that Detroit students who have a history of lead poisoning are far more likely to perform poorly on Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests than peers. The more lead found in students’ blood, the higher the likelihood that they will perform poorly on these tests. [...]