As the world watched the just-concluded Winter Olympics, it was hard not to think of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” game between the United States and the Soviet Union. That moment was magical. It was also the result of grueling, foundational practice and a relentless focus on the basics of the game.
Today, a “Southern surge” in education is capturing national headlines, and many onlookers are calling incredible academic progress in states such as Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi a modern-day miracle. In truth, improved student outcomes in these states are the result of a disciplined, “meat-and-potatoes” game plan that other states can follow.
The states making headlines are places that have historically faced uphill battles against poverty and limited resources, yet their students are no longer at the back of the pack. Louisiana ranks first in the country for pandemic recovery in reading, while Alabama holds that same top spot for math recovery. Mississippi, once an educational punch line, now ranks ninth in the nation for fourth grade reading.
Every one of those rankings represents tens of thousands of children who can read and solve math problems — and eventually graduate prepared for success beyond school.
The deeper you dig into the data, the more profound the transformation feels. According to the Urban Institute, when you adjust for demographics such as race and poverty, Mississippi ranks first in the nation for both fourth grade reading and math. Black fourth graders in Mississippi are now, on average, better readers than their peers in Massachusetts — a state that spends nearly twice as much per pupil and currently is considering its own literacy plan.
While the progress is gratifying, those advocates and policymakers who have been in the trenches for decades know it didn’t happen by accident. These gains are the result of courageous leadership and a relentless focus on the fundamentals.
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Sound, sustained policy changes lives. We saw in Florida 25 years ago that if you get the bedrock right, students will flourish. Over the last decade, these Southern states have done exactly that. They didn’t chase the flashiest headlines or the distractions of the day; they just kept pushing for better outcomes for their kids.
The road map isn’t all that complicated. It starts with a comprehensive literacy policy that includes early screenings to catch struggles before they become failures, personalized reading plans and a third grade promotion gate to ensure students are prepared to tackle more difficult reading in later grades.
In recent years, many of the same states leading on literacy have adopted math policies that include training for teachers, early intervention and support, guaranteed access to advanced courses and a required amount of time each school day devoted to math instruction.
These core subjects get paired with robust accountability, because you can’t improve what you don’t measure. By implementing clear A-to-F school grading systems, states provided the transparency needed to drive improvement, and they maintained high expectations, proving that every child, regardless of where they live, can learn at the highest levels.
The success we’re seeing in the South is a testament to the governors, policymakers and educators who’ve had the grit to stay the course, keeping their heads down and focusing on foundational work that moves the needle.
We at ExcelinEd stood alongside leaders in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi as they passed and implemented nearly 60 student-centered policies in just the last five years and continue to build on that foundation with strong accountability systems and a commitment to quality reading materials.
The credit for results belongs entirely to the states. They had the courage to implement the road map, and now their students are reaping the rewards.
Here’s the great news for states looking to reverse student achievement declines that started before but got worse during the pandemic: The “Southern surge” isn’t a proprietary secret. The blueprint is available to any state willing to prioritize the basics — and stay the course year after year.
These outcomes aren’t a miracle. They’re the result of a marathon-style approach to education policy. When states invest the time and resources and have the determination to make this road map a reality, students win.
Jeb Bush, a former governor of Florida, serves as the chair of ExcelinEd, a national education policy-focused nonprofit.
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