Mississippi’s third grade reading test scores are nearly to pre-pandemic levels

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi’s third graders are signaling that college students could also be bouncing again from the pandemic greater than some had anticipated.

The numbers inform this story. Let’s begin with 2019, earlier than COVID was a factor. 74.5 p.c of Mississippi third graders obtained a passing grade on the studying gate take a look at on their first try.

The take a look at wasn’t given in 2020, and in 2021 it was given, however the scores weren’t a figuring out think about whether or not they’d transfer on to 4th grade.

Now, to 2022.

“I believe that this time round, it actually offers us a extremely good indicator as a result of now it’s actually apples to apples,” stated Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of training. “Now, it’s a requirement as accountability is in place. And now now we have a roll measure from 19 to 22.”

State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright proudly notes that 73.9 p.c handed on the primary try this 12 months.

“It was nearly smack dab the identical,” famous Wright. “And in order that was big, big, big for us. And I believe that that’s letting us know that our lecturers are on the market and have continued to be doing precisely what we wish them to be doing. And for us to come back in 2019 with these outcomes from 2019 to 2022.”

Mississippi Affiliation of Educators’ President Erica Jones is aware of firsthand how in-person studying impacts these expertise.

“As a second-grade instructor, nothing replaces having the ability to look, hear and study to a scholar learn,” stated Jones talking of her former time as an educator within the classroom. “You possibly can attempt it over the pc, you’ll have outcomes with that. However nothing is extra profitable than having a instructor proper by your 5 guiding you thru profitable studying patterns.”

And keep in mind what faculty has seemed like for college students and lecturers just lately.

“Many of those third graders haven’t had what we might contemplate a traditional 12 months of faculty since they had been in first grade,” added Jones. “So, simply to see these numbers actually exhibits that our educators actually pooled in and work collectively exhausting to get these outcomes.”

Not solely that, the passing grade was raised in 2019.

“So, that’s the benchmark that we’ve stored,” stated Dr. Wright. “So, we’re feeling actually, actually good to understand that we’ve gone via two years of COVID, and our little ones are popping out on the opposite finish, I imply, that’s a robust measure.”

There are two retest alternatives for these college students who didn’t hit the benchmark on the primary attempt.

To see the district- and school-level preliminary move charge report for 2021-22, go to mdek12.org/OPR/Reporting/Evaluation/2021-22.

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