One of the greatest stories in the world of education recently has been what many are calling “The Mississippi Miracle.” While this miracle cannot be found in the Bible, it is still worth a close examination by leaders in K-12 Christian schools. Here is the story.
For many years, Mississippi was in the bottom 10% nationally in student test scores. In 2013, through a chain of financial and political events, the idea was launched. While not revolutionary, the recipe was rooted in traditional educational best practices and then sprinkled with a touch of modern technology and innovation. (Sometimes we find our best solutions when we study the success of others who have gone before us.)
The state legislature made a commitment to change its failed model of K-12 education and, in doing so, adopted several fundamental changes.
- Return to phonics-based reading programs
- Ended social promotion
- Strategic tutoring, not the usual “one-size-fits-all” approach
- Higher standards of accountability for parents and teachers
- Students cannot enter Fourth Grade without reading proficiency
- Funding in part based upon the progress of the bottom 25%, not the usual top-scoring students.
The results? In one decade, Mississippi increased its national student test scores from #47 to #16. Now, that is a miracle and one that should be studied by every university-level school leadership program.
Carry on the good work God has called you to, my friends!