Education Wins: What the Data Really Shows

In recent news, a teacher union president praised how some southern states are improving reading skills. He pointed out that the progress in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana is not about politics but about solid teaching plans and well‑trained teachers. These states have put the right materials in classrooms, given staff good training and coaching, and supported students who struggle most. Other districts nationwide are copying this model. They choose proven textbooks, schedule regular professional growth for teachers and keep extra help available to kids who need it. The union has teamed with a reading program that shares the best ways teachers can help children read.If lawmakers want higher scores, they should follow a simple recipe: pay teachers fairly, give them curricula that research says works, offer frequent training and keep schools accountable for using those resources. Then give the system time to show results—many reform attempts skip this step. The union says schools can help every child when the right tools are in place. That is a goal worth supporting across the country.