Illiteracy Is a Policy Choice
18 hours ago
- #education-reform
- #public-schools
- #literacy
- The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show declining reading proficiency in California and across the U.S., with only 30% of California's fourth graders reading proficiently.
- Mississippi has seen significant improvements in reading scores, outperforming richer states like California, especially among disadvantaged students.
- Southern states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee have adopted effective strategies including phonics-based literacy programs, teacher training, and strict accountability measures.
- Third grade retention policies in these states have been crucial, ensuring students master reading before advancing, which has led to better academic outcomes.
- Despite proven success, these reforms have not gained widespread adoption in other states, partly due to political and ideological resistance.
- The article calls for national adoption of these evidence-based reforms to improve literacy rates and public education outcomes across the country.