The 1998 NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) state level reading assessment measured fourth- and eighth-grade students' reading proficiency in situations that involved reading for three purposes: reading for literary experience, reading to gain information, and reading to perform a task (grade 8 only). This report describes the reading proficiency of Michigan fourth-grade public and nonpublic school students and compares their overall performance to students in the Central region of the United States and the nation (using data from the NAEP national assessments). Michigan participated in the 1998 NAEP reading assessment at the fourth grade only. The distribution of reading results and reading achievement level results are provided for subpopulations of students (gender, race/ethnicity, students' reports of parents' highest educational level, free/reduced-price lunch program eligibility, and type of location). The average reading proficiency of fourth-grade public school students in Michigan on the NAEP scale was 217 compared to 215 nationwide and 235 compared to 233 nationwide for fourth-grade nonpublic school students. (RS)