Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The state still scores below average in reading on the 8th grade NAEP tests. Nearly half of black 8th graders in the state score “below basic,” which is functionally illiterate.

For 4th grade, the state now score about average on the NAEP.

The state is doing better than before but it’s still not that great.

Look at the curve over time and recall that they started in last place. They have not yet plateaued. It takes several years of any new curriculum anywhere before improvements become measurable.

Given Project 2025 and removal of the department of education and the amid funds MS gets from feds which is now home education in MS will devolve into even worse than before. Child marriage and child labor and child death from
Diseases will increase.

Your knowledge of current events and public policy is impressive

Anonymous wrote:The state still scores below average in reading on the 8th grade NAEP tests. Nearly half of black 8th graders in the state score “below basic,” which is functionally illiterate.

For 4th grade, the state now score about average on the NAEP.

The state is doing better than before but it’s still not that great.

Uhh... the 8th graders didn't go through this reading paradigm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s also a test of 4th graders and Mississippi makes a lot of kids repeat 3rd grade. Which means that a lot of kids in the Mississippi data are a year older, and have been in school a year longer, than kids from other states.

Agree. Other states should pay attention.

Holding a lot of kids back means either your graduation rate goes down or your costs go up. Most voters care more about graduation rates than 4th grade NAEP scores, and care more about costs (ie, taxes) than either.

The cost of sending illiterate kids through your k-12 system, then having to pay for remedial classes in both community and state colleges or seeing them on welfare are higher.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The state still scores below average in reading on the 8th grade NAEP tests. Nearly half of black 8th graders in the state score “below basic,” which is functionally illiterate.

For 4th grade, the state now score about average on the NAEP.

The state is doing better than before but it’s still not that great.

Look at the curve over time and recall that they started in last place. They have not yet plateaued. It takes several years of any new curriculum anywhere before improvements become measurable.

Given Project 2025 and removal of the department of education and the amid funds MS gets from feds which is now home education in MS will devolve into even worse than before. Child marriage and child labor and child death from
Diseases will increase.

No. Misississippi schools primarily are funded by the states. Their literacy improvements are driven by switching to a curriculum where children actually get taught properly. Improvements there were not driven primarily by any Federal dollars.

Anonymous wrote:The state still scores below average in reading on the 8th grade NAEP tests. Nearly half of black 8th graders in the state score “below basic,” which is functionally illiterate.

For 4th grade, the state now score about average on the NAEP.

The state is doing better than before but it’s still not that great.

You would be ecstatic if this were Baltimore. Mississippi started from last place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s also a test of 4th graders and Mississippi makes a lot of kids repeat 3rd grade. Which means that a lot of kids in the Mississippi data are a year older, and have been in school a year longer, than kids from other states.

They don't make *nearly* enough 3rd graders repeat third grade to account for the difference -- roughly 6.5% repeat. And the number of Mississippi kids that achieve higher levels of proficiency has soared, and an additional year is seldom enough on its own to turn a failed third grader into a high scoring fourth grader.

It's also worth adding that Mississippi doesn't simply have the kids repeat 3rd grade. They add in a lot of supports to help ensure that the material sticks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's amazing how kids can go from barely literate to literate when you actually teach them how to read the right way.

And no kid is throwing chairs at the teacher.

That too. I teach kindergarten and the struggling students at the end of kindergarten are still struggling in 5th grade. They won’t let us hold anyone back anymore. Before Covid, we were allowed to hold a few students back and they are doing well and are reading in grade level (my school is pre-k through 8th).

For many years, holding kids back has been frowned upon. I was a teacher where kids were routinely held back many years ago. It does not always help.

When does it help? I taught one child in first grade who was held back--I think it was at the request of his parents. He was exceptionally tall--but extremely immature. I taught him his second year in first grade. He bragged about doing things the year before when he was in first grade. It absolutely worked well for him. I think his parents presented it to him as a very positive thing. He thrived.

This is rarely the experience.

It really depends on why the child is failing. Learning disabilities may not be a good reason unless another year will really help them remediate. Lack of maturity--great reason, but hard to measure.

There are similarities with red shirting. Some of these kids just need another year. Others? it may not help at all and may lead to other issues.

No easy answer.

Anonymous wrote:It’s also a test of 4th graders and Mississippi makes a lot of kids repeat 3rd grade. Which means that a lot of kids in the Mississippi data are a year older, and have been in school a year longer, than kids from other states.

They don't make *nearly* enough 3rd graders repeat third grade to account for the difference -- roughly 6.5% repeat. And the number of Mississippi kids that achieve higher levels of proficiency has soared, and an additional year is seldom enough on its own to turn a failed third grader into a high scoring fourth grader.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's amazing how kids can go from barely literate to literate when you actually teach them how to read the right way.

And no kid is throwing chairs at the teacher.

That too. I teach kindergarten and the struggling students at the end of kindergarten are still struggling in 5th grade. They won’t let us hold anyone back anymore. Before Covid, we were allowed to hold a few students back and they are doing well and are reading in grade level (my school is pre-k through 8th).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The state still scores below average in reading on the 8th grade NAEP tests. Nearly half of black 8th graders in the state score “below basic,” which is functionally illiterate.

For 4th grade, the state now score about average on the NAEP.

The state is doing better than before but it’s still not that great.

Look at the curve over time and recall that they started in last place. They have not yet plateaued. It takes several years of any new curriculum anywhere before improvements become measurable.

Given Project 2025 and removal of the department of education and the amid funds MS gets from feds which is now home education in MS will devolve into even worse than before. Child marriage and child labor and child death from
Diseases will increase.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, there is no “miracle” and the scores are still very low. The Urban Institute adjusted the scores for demographics which means they are effectively lowering the benchmark for proficiency in states with larger minority populations. Demographically adjusting the data to create fake miracle does nothing to help kids actually learn and be successful. The Urban Institute should do better and hold everyone to the same high standard.

+1

Anonymous wrote:The state still scores below average in reading on the 8th grade NAEP tests. Nearly half of black 8th graders in the state score “below basic,” which is functionally illiterate.

For 4th grade, the state now score about average on the NAEP.

The state is doing better than before but it’s still not that great.

Look at the curve over time and recall that they started in last place. They have not yet plateaued. It takes several years of any new curriculum anywhere before improvements become measurable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's amazing how kids can go from barely literate to literate when you actually teach them how to read the right way.

And no kid is throwing chairs at the teacher.

That too. I teach kindergarten and the struggling students at the end of kindergarten are still struggling in 5th grade. They won’t let us hold anyone back anymore. Before Covid, we were allowed to hold a few students back and they are doing well and are reading in grade level (my school is pre-k through 8th).

This is important to realize. Holding back failing students is fundamental.

The state still scores below average in reading on the 8th grade NAEP tests. Nearly half of black 8th graders in the state score “below basic,” which is functionally illiterate.

For 4th grade, the state now score about average on the NAEP.

The state is doing better than before but it’s still not that great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s also a test of 4th graders and Mississippi makes a lot of kids repeat 3rd grade. Which means that a lot of kids in the Mississippi data are a year older, and have been in school a year longer, than kids from other states.

This.

This is a good thing.