042026 ~ Michigan vs Mississippi - Molly Macek

Michigan's fourth-grade reading proficiency ranks a dismal 44th in the nation, while Mississippi—once at the bottom—has surged to ninth, a transformation dubbed the 'Mississippi miracle.' In a candid conversation on The Lucy Ann Lance Show, Molly Masick, Director of Education Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, dissects the stark contrast, revealing that Michigan’s 2024 literacy laws lack the accountability measures that made Mississippi’s 2013 law a success. Key among those missing elements is third-grade retention: students must read at grade level to advance. Michigan repealed its retention provision in 2023 after only two years of partial implementation, despite evidence showing that early intervention and science-based reading instruction—like trained literacy coaches and universal screening—are proven to work. Masick emphasizes that Mississippi didn’t just pass laws; they invested in statewide implementation with a dedicated literacy director, parent engagement, and comprehensive support systems. The real lesson? Policy without fidelity and long-term commitment is meaningless. As Masick poignantly notes, 'You're only a kid for a short time. If you can't read well by high school, you're in for a world of trouble.' The challenge now is whether Michigan’s lawmakers will act with urgency and consistency—or continue to prioritize politics over progress.