Earlier this month, Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik declared Mississippi’s much touted gains in reading a sham. Since the passage of the LBPA, sometimes referred to as the “Third Grade Reading Gate,” Mississippi students and teachers have performed admirably. Half of his critique of Mississippi’s reading achievements is wholly unrelated to reading. In-State Questions RaisedOver the weekend, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy released its own analysis of Mississippi’s reading gains. In 2019, white students in Mississippi were ranked 18th nationally in fourth grade reading.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 25, 2023 17:33 UTC