Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Mississippi has received national acclaim for its growth in student achievement. In fourth-grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the state has moved from 49th in 2013 to 21st in 2024, and its low-income students outperform those in every other state. Insiders argue that these improvements, widely attributed to the state’s early literacy reforms, should be called the “Mississippi Marathon”—not the “Mississippi Miracle,” as many initially dubbed it.
In this webinar, AEI’s Robert Pondiscio will be joined by a panel of experts who spearheaded Mississippi’s education reforms: Kymyona Burk, former state literacy director; Kelly Butler, who led efforts to retrain teachers in early literacy; and Rachel Canter, founder of the policy advocacy organization Mississippi First. They will consider what the education sector should learn from Mississippi’s reforms and results.
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#aei #news #politics #government #education #livestream #live #k12education #schoolcurriculum #mississippi #achievementgap
Mississippi has received national acclaim for its growth in student achievement. In fourth-grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the state has moved from 49th in 2013 to 21st in 2024, and its low-income students outperform those in every other state. Insiders argue that these improvements, widely attributed to the state’s early literacy reforms, should be called the “Mississippi Marathon”—not the “Mississippi Miracle,” as many initially dubbed it.
In this webinar, AEI’s Robert Pondiscio will be joined by a panel of experts who spearheaded Mississippi’s education reforms: Kymyona Burk, former state literacy director; Kelly Butler, who led efforts to retrain teachers in early literacy; and Rachel Canter, founder of the policy advocacy organization Mississippi First. They will consider what the education sector should learn from Mississippi’s reforms and results.
Subscribe to AEI's YouTube Channel
youtube.com/user/AEIVideos?sub_confirmation=1
Like us on Facebook
facebook.com/AEIonline
Follow us on Twitter
twitter.com/AEI
For more information
aei.org
AEI operates independently of any political party and does not take institutional positions on any issues. AEI scholars, fellows, and their guests frequently take positions on policy and other issues. When they do, they speak for themselves and not for AEI or its trustees or other scholars or employees.
More information on AEI research integrity can be found here: aei.org/about
#aei #news #politics #government #education #livestream #live #k12education #schoolcurriculum #mississippi #achievementgap
