For more than fifty years, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has shown the same troubling pattern: fourth‑grade students across America consistently test as non‑proficient in skills they should have mastered in third grade. Despite the dedication of teachers, children who cannot read continue to be passed into fourth grade unprepared, and the cycle repeats year after year.
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Much of this failure traces back to the late 1800s, when John Dewey’s philosophy of “making learning fun” replaced phonics with whole‑word recognition and contextual guessing. These ideas eventually evolved into “whole language” and “balanced literacy,” methods that dominated American classrooms for nearly 130 years. Even as evidence mounted that these approaches were ineffective, powerful labor unions and entrenched education schools continued producing curricula rooted in Dewey’s theories, leaving public schools with few alternatives.
This broken system might have continued indefinitely—except for a handful of courageous governors who refused to accept generational failure. These leaders not only promised reform; they funded it, enforced it, and stood firm against union pressure, resistant school districts, and educators who had never been trained in effective reading instruction. Their leadership sparked a reading revival.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush Adopts the Science of Reading
The turning point came on September 7, 2001, when Governor Jeb Bush issued Executive Order 01‑206 and declared, “Just Read, Florida!” He made phonemic awareness and structured literacy the foundation of Florida’s reading instruction and vowed, “Florida will ensure every child will learn to read—no exceptions!”
The Florida Legislature backed these reforms by supporting the Science of Reading, funding reading remediation, and implementing third‑grade retention for students not reading at grade level.
Before Bush’s reforms, Florida’s NAEP Grade 4 reading score was 208 (1992), placing the state near the bottom nationally. Today, Florida ranks 10th in the nation with a score of 218 (2024). The state saw long‑term gains, especially among low‑income students—proof that structured literacy works.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant Adopts the Science of Reading
In 2013, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed the Literacy‑Based Promotion Act, making Mississippi one of the first states to legally require phonics‑based Science of Reading instruction statewide. Bryant made literacy a top priority, championing evidence‑based reading practices, implementing third‑grade retention, and allocating $15 million annually to train and deploy reading coaches across the state.
Under his leadership, Mississippi enforced Science‑of‑Reading standards with uncommon consistency. The results were historic: Mississippi rose from 50th in the nation in fourth‑grade reading to top‑ten status—a transformation widely known as the “Mississippi Miracle.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Implements the Science of Reading
In 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott oversaw the passage of House Bill 3, which required all K–3 teachers to complete Science‑of‑Reading training through the Texas Reading Academies. The state strengthened intervention systems for struggling readers and hired reading coaches to provide intensive support.
Unlike Mississippi and Florida, Texas did not pass a single sweeping literacy bill. Instead, Governor Abbott implemented a multi‑year, multi‑policy approach that steadily reshaped reading instruction statewide. The results are clear: Texas has seen measurable improvement in STAAR reading scores, including significant gains among English‑language learners. The Science of Reading is working.
Retention: A Common Thread of Courage
Florida’s retention policy was a major driver of its early literacy gains. Mississippi’s retention law became the catalyst for its dramatic turnaround. Texas implemented similar policies and saw measurable improvement.
The Role of Strong Political Leadership
Across all three states, one theme stands out: strong governors and legislatures willing to stand firm. These leaders prioritized literacy even when unions resisted, and local districts pushed back. Legislatures funded teacher training, reading coaches, and remediation programs. Governors insisted on accountability and refused to compromise with ineffective methods.
The NEA and AFT have long opposed retention and favored balanced literacy over phonics. Yet Florida, Mississippi, and Texas pressed forward anyway—choosing children’s futures over institutional preferences.
Why This Matters for America
The literacy gains in Florida, Mississippi, and Texas are not anomalies. They are evidence that the right policies, backed by courageous leadership, can reverse decades of decline. These reforms are not experimental or expensive. They are grounded in science, supported by data, and proven in practice.
Every state in America could adopt this model. Every child in America deserves the chance to read. And every leader in America should be willing to stand firm—even when unions resist—to protect the future of the next generation.
A Call to Prayer and Action
As believers, we know literacy is more than an academic skill. It is the doorway to Scripture, to truth, and to the ability to discern the world around us. A child who cannot read is vulnerable, academically and spiritually.
Pray for governors, legislators, and education leaders to champion reforms that work. Pray for courage to stand firm when unions oppose phonics‑based instruction or retention policies. Pray for teachers to be equipped and encouraged. And pray for children across America to receive the gift of literacy, the gift that opens every other door.
Florida, Mississippi, and Texas have shown us what is possible. Now it is time for the rest of the nation to follow their lead.
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About the Author: Nancy Huff is an educator with a mission to equip believers to pray strategically for the Cultural Mountain of Education. She has authored Taking the Mountain of Education: A Strategic Prayer Guide to Transform America’s Schools. She leads prayer groups to pray at key educational locations across the US. For additional information, go to: https://takingthemountainofeducation.com/author/nancyahuff/. Photo Credit: Wavebreakmedia/Getty Images Pro via Canva Business.
