Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Cameron Abrams is a policy analyst for Next Generation Texas at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Abrams outlines Texas’ ongoing early literacy crisis, noting that fourth-grade reading scores have stagnated for over a decade and that nearly half of Texas fourth graders read below the NAEP basic level. He points to Mississippi’s dramatic rise in national reading rankings as proof that meaningful reform is possible through strong policy implementation and accountability.
He argues that Texas must adopt a firm third-grade retention standard for students who are not reading at grade level, emphasizing that third grade is the critical turning point in the learning process.
Testimony before the Texas House Public Education Committee on improving early literacy in Texas
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
Cameron Abrams is a policy analyst for Next Generation Texas at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Abrams outlines Texas’ ongoing early literacy crisis, noting that fourth-grade reading scores have stagnated for over a decade and that nearly half of Texas fourth graders read below the NAEP basic level. He points to Mississippi’s dramatic rise in national reading rankings as proof that meaningful reform is possible through strong policy implementation and accountability.
He argues that Texas must adopt a firm third-grade retention standard for students who are not reading at grade level, emphasizing that third grade is the critical turning point in the learning process.
Testimony before the Texas House Public Education Committee on improving early literacy in Texas
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
