Literacy outlasts the lab

Education leaders in Mississippi give credit to standardized training for teachers and early intervention for leveling the playing field for the most underserved students. The fundamental nature of literacy is backed by a mountain of longitudinal data. In the world of education policy, the “Science of Reading” isn’t just a curriculum choice; it’s a primary predictor of a student’s life trajectory.

Research consistently shows that the transition from “learning to read” (K-3) to “reading to learn” (Grade 4 and beyond) is the most critical juncture in a child’s education.

Staying in School: A landmark study by the Annie E Casey Foundation found that students who are not proficient readers by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers. If that student also lives in poverty, the risk of dropping out increases to six times the rate of their peers.

Career Productivity: In the modern “knowledge economy,” literacy is the primary currency. According to the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), adults with higher literacy levels are significantly more likely to be employed and to hold full-time positions. Proficiency in reading allows for the “upskilling” necessary to survive shifting job markets.

Higher Education Attainment: Literacy acts as a gatekeeper. Students who struggle with reading comprehension are less likely to perform well on standardized entrance exams or manage the heavy independent reading loads required in university settings, often resulting in lower college enrollment and completion rates.

Financial Stability: The correlation between reading and the wallet is stark. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and various literacy organizations suggest that adults with the lowest literacy levels have a median weekly income that is nearly half that of those at the highest literacy levels. Literacy is quite literally a hedge against poverty.

The Mississippi Miracle

The “Mississippi Miracle” is the term used by educators and policymakers to describe the state’s dramatic climb from the bottom of national education rankings to the middle of the pack in just under a decade. In 2013, Mississippi ranked 49th in the nation for fourth-grade reading; by 2022, it had jumped to 21st, and most recent data from 2024 and 2025 shows the state ranking as high as ninth in the nation when adjusted for demographics.

What makes it a “miracle” to some and a blueprint to others is that this was achieved in the state with the highest child poverty rate in the US. It wasn’t about more money or smaller class sizes, but a complete overhaul of how reading was taught.

The Four Pillars of the Strategy

The state’s transformation was driven by the Literacy-Based Promotion Act of 2013, which rested on four main strategies:

• Universal Teacher Training (LETRS): Mississippi didn’t just tell teachers to “teach better.” They required every K–3 teacher to be trained in the **Science of Reading** (structured literacy), focusing on phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Literacy Coaches: The state deployed elite “literacy coaches” to the lowest-performing schools to provide real-time, in-classroom support for teachers.
• Early Screening: Instead of waiting until the end of the year to see who failed, students are screened starting in Kindergarten. If a deficit is found, an “Individualized Reading Plan” is created immediately.
• The “Third-Grade Gate”: This is the most controversial piece. Students must pass a reading assessment to move to 4th grade. This prevents “social promotion,” where students are passed along regardless of skill, only to fall further behind when the curriculum shifts from *learning to read* to *reading to learn*.

Is the “Miracle” Real?

Critics often wonder if the scores are high only because the “weakest” readers were held back and didn’t take the test. However, long-term research has challenged that skepticism.

While fourth-grade scores saw the biggest jump, Mississippi’s eighth graders have also shown significant improvement, proving the foundational skills stuck. In addition, a 2023 study found that students who were held back under this law actually had higher 6th-grade English scores than students who were “barely” promoted, suggesting that the extra year of intensive instruction provided a permanent boost.

A roadmap for other states

To compare Mississippi’s “Reading Gate” metrics with the specific retention thresholds Maryland is currently considering, we took a look at Maryland’s ongoing work. By way of disclosure, I am employed by the Maryland State Department of Education, but I’m not involved with any decisions as far as the literacy initiative goes.

The “Mississippi Miracle” serves as both a hopeful roadmap and a cautionary tale regarding the logistics of large-scale retention. Here’s a breakdown of how Mississippi’s evidence compares to Maryland’s current 2026 trajectory.