Mississippi's Literacy Breakthrough

My new piece in The Conversation looks at Mississippi’s education miracle. Once ranked near the bottom of U.S. education standings, Mississippi has improved student literacy rates and moved to the top of U.S. rankings.

The rest of the country — and world — might want to take note. Mississippi’s offers a proven solution to the reading literacy crisis.

In 2013, Mississippi implemented the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, focusing on early literacy, teacher development, and proven reading instruction methods, with provisions like reading coaches, parent communication, and individualized support for struggling students, while aligning state assessments with the NAEP.

Research by Noah Spencer shows that Mississippi's literacy law improved reading scores by 0.25 standard deviations, equivalent to one year of academic progress, despite the state's low per-pupil spending.

For every dollar Mississippi spends, the state gains about $32 in lifetime earnings, highlighting long-term economic benefits. The literacy project emphasizes teaching at the right level and scripted lesson plans, proven effective strategies, especially as nearly half of global education programs show no learning benefit.

Read more here.