I’m curious re: how many of their students are learning English as a second language.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

Mississippi was 30th in the nation in 2024

Up from 50th about 4-5 years ago, and continuing to trend upwards as properly taught kids get older and enable the next grade's teat results to show the fix took.

The problem with NY is the vast differences in population background that the DOE has to shoehorn into an academic program. There are homeless kids, kids from cultures with very little emphasis on education, uninvolved parents, etc..

No matter how much money NY throws at this problem (and NY has thrown lots of money at this for years), this does not change the extremes of socio-economic demographics.

I read about the MS miracle a few months back. So glad to hear someone is doing better in education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

They also hold students back in 3rd grade if they are not on grade level in math and reading. We need to return to not allowing kids to advance in school if they are not meeting standards.

They don’t just hold 3rd students who are low back. First, by law, retained students must receive a minimum of ninety minutes in reading instruction based on the science of reading and intensive interventions with progress monitoring, among other supports. The retention treatment is designed to specifically address their needs.

Asian kids in NY are still doing great. We probably should just do whatever it is that they and their families do. Don’t breed with morons, make your kids study, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

Mississippi was 30th in the nation in 2024

Mississippi used to be rock bottom:
Over the last 10 years, not only have Mississippi’s average reading scores improved but so has performance among student subgroups. It’s not just that Mississippi has raised the floor, it has also raised the ceiling, writes Kelsey Piper for The Argument on Substack. “They haven’t just caught up to your state; they are now wildly outperforming it.”

While Mississippi fourth graders outperformed Minnesota fourth graders in reading on the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), their average reading score is also significantly higher than it was in 2013. Minnesota’s, unfortunately, is significantly lower than it was in 2013.

Among students of color served, the average reading score for Mississippi black fourth graders is significantly higher than 10 years ago, whereas the average score for Minnesota black fourth graders is significantly lower than it was 10 years ago

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

They also hold students back in 3rd grade if they are not on grade level in math and reading. We need to return to not allowing kids to advance in school if they are not meeting standards.

Agree. We eventually hold kids back. Why do it at age 14 and not age 8? Fourteen year olds have feelings too. If we're going to do it, do it when interventions are more effective.

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

They also hold students back in 3rd grade if they are not on grade level in math and reading. We need to return to not allowing kids to advance in school if they are not meeting standards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

Mississippi was 30th in the nation in 2024

They used to be at the bottom, not in the middle. In education it is called the Mississippi Miracle. I am a structured literacy instructor (teaching dyslexic kids to read) and the PP is exactly right.

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

Mississippi was 30th in the nation in 2024

Mississippi has shown the way. Direct instruction using tried and true methods with clear science (example: Phonics), avoid fads (whole language, balanced literacy, and other Lucy Calkins crap). Teach kids he material directly, do not think they will learn by osmosis.

Anonymous wrote:That's also true in rural counties across the US. Oh, the money? Stuff costs more in NYC than in Calhoun county Arkansas. Do you have a solution?

Lot of good the Department of Education did for the students in NY

That's also true in rural counties across the US. Oh, the money? Stuff costs more in NYC than in Calhoun county Arkansas. Do you have a solution?

https://nypost.com/2025/12/05/us-news/nearly-half-of-students-across-ny-state-fail-to-make-the-grade-on-math-english-tests-data/

Nearly half the public school kids are below proficiency in math and English. NY spends a massive amount per pupil and still fails at providing a basic education.

NY’s model is not working.