Part of the Puzzle: How ReadWorks Supports Literacy Growth in Mississippi

2/11/2026

For a long time, the national conversation about education in Mississippi was one of struggle. Yet in the last few years, a new narrative has emerged, one that news reporters across the country are calling the "Mississippi Miracle." Since 2013, the state has undergone a historic transformation, rising from the bottom of national rankings to becoming a leader in 4th-grade reading progress. (Source: How Mississippi Transformed Schools from Worst to Best, New York Times, 2026)

At ReadWorks, we know this wasn't a miracle; it was the result of thousands of teachers and state leaders rolling up their sleeves to embrace and implement the science of reading into instruction. However, as any teacher will tell you, the work is far from over. We know Mississippi sparks a particular curiosity because of its high poverty rate, rural school districts, and limited funding for instructional materials. This story brings hope that leadership, organization, and access- in addition to financial investment - can drive change.

The Importance of Access to ReadWorks in Mississippi: Removing the "Price Tag" from Progress

Each year, more than 7,000 reading specialists and paraprofessionals (20% of Mississippi educators) use ReadWorks; 87% work in schools serving student populations where at least 75% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the population Readworks is most focused on as a nonprofit. This is significant because ReadWorks is able to provide resources that are typically high-cost for free. Resources such as nonfiction decodable texts—short articles that help emerging readers practice specific letter sounds. These are essential tools for reading instruction, yet they are often priced as luxury items. A single classroom set can cost a school over $4,000. (Source: Decodables.com)

Thanks to the support of The Chisholm Foundation, which specifically funds ReadWorks’ outreach to Mississippi, here are a few key ways ReadWorks has made an impact across the state:

Strengthened relationships: Through user outreach and in-state research partnerships, we are working more closely with educators in MS.
Produced curricula alignment: We have aligned our materials with the Mississippi-approved UFLI and Fundations curricula, making it seamless for teachers to use ReadWorks alongside their core instruction.
High-Impact reach: This support has impacted more than 17,000 students and thousands of educators across the state in the past two years.

"ReadWorks has helped me with the start of teaching. It also helps with finding out what level my students are on."

- Elementary School Teacher, Greenwood Leflore District, MS

Deeping District Partnerships:

In partnership with the Laurel, MS School District, ReadWorks is embarking on a deep, multi-year research initiative to understand exactly how digital tools can best support students in high-poverty communities. The Laurel project represents our most significant commitment yet. We aren’t just providing content; we are providing the "human infrastructure" to make it work.

Bridging the Digital Divide: This year, ReadWorks donated 26 Chromebooks to the Laurel Magnet School for the Arts to ensure that 42 fifth-graders had consistent, uninterrupted access to high-quality texts.
Research that Matters: ReadWorks is conducting a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of our resources on background knowledge and vocabulary building—our first in a district where over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The findings will serve as a case study for other high-FRL districts, informing best practices for supporting struggling readers.
Deepening the Roots: A key initiative of this partnership, ReadWorks is also providing personalized professional development sessions to ensure every teacher is supported.

We are grateful for partners like the Chisholm Foundation that support our work in Mississippi. ReadWorks will continue to ensure that educators in Mississippi never have to choose between quality resources and a tight budget. It continues to be one of our priority states and a recent analysis of activity on the ReadWorks site showed that educators in Mississippi continue to be some of our most engaged. The "Mississippi Miracle" is proof that when leaders invest time and energy in implementing high-quality reading instruction, it supports teachers' demand for research-based tools that help students thrive.