Southern States Lead Education Revival
Almost 15 years ago, the No Child Left Behind Act sparked an education revolution in the South. Southern states, historically at the bottom of national education rankings, began making dramatic improvements. Louisiana and Mississippi, once the worst in the nation, have risen to near the top in reading proficiency. Their success is due to a focus on proven teaching methods, strong accountability systems, and resisting education fads.
But their journey wasn’t easy. Both states are among the poorest in the country, with weak teachers’ unions and a history of low educational investment. Yet, by prioritizing basics like phonics-based reading and holding schools accountable, they’ve achieved remarkable results.
A Remarkable Turnaround
GEO Prep Mid-City Academy serves as a prime example. This Baton Rouge school, once failing, now ranks in the top third for reading proficiency in Louisiana. Its formula for success? A focus on curriculum mastery, teacher training, and regular testing. “We don’t chase fads,” said Kevin Teasley, head of GEO Academies. “Our success comes from a long-term commitment to results.”
This approach mirrors what’s happening across the South. After more than a decade of struggling, Louisiana and Mississippi are now leading the nation in reading improvement. Their rise is all the more surprising given they spend less on education than most states.
The Southern Surge
Louisiana and Mississippi’s success is part of a larger movement known as the Southern Surge. Over the past decade, these states have skyrocketed from the bottom to near the top of national education rankings.
Why are they succeeding? Their reforms focus on three key areas:
- Proven Curriculum: They’ve ditched ineffective teaching methods for evidence-based approaches like phonics-based reading.
- Teacher Training: Educators undergo intensive training to master these new methods.
- Accountability: Schools are graded on student progress, and those that fail are required to improve.
The results? Fourth-grade reading scores in Mississippi jumped by 10 percentage points, the most of any state. Louisiana’s growth was close behind.
Breaking Down Barriers
The South’s education revival challenges the belief that more funding is the only way to improve schools. While funding is important, Louisiana and Mississippi show that smart reforms can achieve big results.
But what about other states? Many blue states, like New York and Washington, have moved in the opposite direction, prioritizing equity over accountability and reducing rigor in schools. The results? Declining reading scores.
In 2024, less than 40% of students in New York achieved reading proficiency, compared to Mississippi’s 32%. But adjusted for poverty levels, Mississippi now ranks first in reading.
The Role of Accountability
Accountability is a key driver of progress in the South. Southern states assign clear grades to schools, identifying low performers and working to fix them. Teachers and schools are held accountable for student progress.
For example, Louisiana and Mississippi have toughened their accountability systems. Schools are graded based on how many students meet proficiency standards and how quickly they’re improving.
But this approach isn’t without controversy. Some argue that accountability measures disproportionately affect Black and low-income students.
The Future of Education Reform
The Southern Surge is starting to influence other states. Maryland, once a top performer, has fallen to 42nd in early literacy. In response, they’ve hired Carey Wright, who led Mississippi’s turnaround, to overhaul their system.
Maryland is now rolling out reforms like phonics-based reading and tougher accountability measures. They aim to be in the top 10 by 2027.
Other blue states like Colorado and Virginia are also taking steps to improve. Colorado has moved up 12 places in national rankings since adopting similar reforms.
But challenges remain. Teachers’ unions in many states oppose accountability measures and classroom changes. Federal education cuts also threaten to undermine progress.
Conclusion
The Southern Surge shows that education reform is possible, even in the poorest states. It’s not about money or politics. It’s about focusing on what works.
But the journey is far from over. Many states are stuck in old ways.
As Carey Wright said, “You can never lift your foot off the pedal. This is relentless. Day in, day out, you have to look at data and never assume that things are going to get better.”
The future depends on leaders willing to take risks and push for change, no matter how difficult. For now, the South’s education revival offers hope that every child, no matter their background, can achieve academic success.