Jackson, MS – Mississippi's third-grade reading assessment saw 85% of its students pass the required literacy test for promotion to fourth grade in the 2024-25 school year, a figure consistent with recent years. This achievement continues to highlight the impact of the state's Literacy-Based Promotion Act of 2013, which mandates that third graders demonstrate reading proficiency to advance. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is now advocating for Michigan to implement similar early literacy interventions, citing Mississippi's significant gains in national reading assessments.
The "third-grade gate" policy, part of Mississippi's comprehensive literacy strategy, requires students to score at Level 3 or higher on the reading portion of the state's English Language Arts assessment. Students are provided multiple opportunities to pass, including retests, and certain "good cause" exemptions are available for those with disabilities or English language learners. In the 2024-25 academic year, 77.3% of third graders passed on their initial attempt, marking the highest first-pass rate in the state's history.
Dr. Molly Macek, Director of Education Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, emphasized the importance of such policies. "When third graders can't read, they shouldn't automatically get moved on to fourth grade," Macek stated in a recent tweet from the Mackinac Center. She highlights Mississippi's approach as a model for higher achievement, particularly for states like Michigan, which currently ranks in the bottom ten nationally for literacy, with nearly two-thirds of its students not reading proficiently.
Mississippi's educational reforms, which include early screening, evidence-based instruction, and the third-grade retention policy, have been credited with the state's climb from 49th in fourth-grade reading in 2013 to ninth in 2024 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This progress is often attributed to a sustained focus on the "Science of Reading" and significant investment in teacher training and literacy coaches. The Mackinac Center's report, "Mississippi Learning: Lessons on Literacy Laws for Michigan Lawmakers," recommends that Michigan amend its literacy law to require grade-level reading proficiency for third graders, support robust implementation, and hold schools accountable for results.
The success in Mississippi demonstrates that comprehensive literacy policies, including a reading gate and targeted interventions, can lead to measurable improvements in student outcomes. While the state's retention rate for third graders who do not meet the reading standard has been around 6-9% in recent years, the focus remains on ensuring students receive the necessary support to achieve reading proficiency before advancing.
