State officials

Policy brief: what Mississippi did, and what it shows

The result. In 2013, Mississippi ranked 49th in 4th grade reading on NAEP (NCES, 2013 state results(opens in a new tab)). In 2024, after adjusting for demographics, it ranked first in 4th grade reading and math (Mississippi First(opens in a new tab)).

What the state did

The retention evidence. Students narrowly held back in the first cohort scored substantially higher in 6th grade ELA than students narrowly promoted, with no effect on math, absences, or special education identification (the study was commissioned by ExcelinEd, a retention-policy advocate; Wheelock / ExcelinEd brief(opens in a new tab)). Researchers note early-grade retention evidence elsewhere is mixed, and middle school retention appears harmful (Chalkbeat(opens in a new tab)).

The honest limits

• Many changes happened at once, so no single lever can be credited.
• Gains taper by 8th grade; the state is now funding adolescent literacy coaches (Mississippi Today(opens in a new tab)).

State playbook: six moves

1. One message, held for a decade. Mississippi's funding and strategy stayed steady across years.
2. Train teachers in the content of reading and math instruction, with coaching in the lowest-performing schools.
3. Screen every K–3 student three times a year and require intervention plans for those behind.
4. Review and recommend materials against an evidence-based rubric, not just standards alignment.
5. Fix teacher preparation so new teachers arrive trained.
6. Build a network of practitioners, such as a state science of learning fellowship, so the work spreads teacher to teacher.