Leaps and Bounds: How Early Learning Supports the ‘Mississippi Miracle’ 

This GLR Learning Tuesdays Partner webinar gave attendees an opportunity to learn about Mississippi’s early learning efforts and gains in reading proficiency. Moderated by Micayla Tatum from Mississippi First, this session featured a conversation with Jill Dent, Ph.D., and Tenette Smith, Ed.D., of the Mississippi Department of Education and Dr. Ruth Patterson of the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 

The webinar began with a look back at the last 20 years in the Mississippi early childhood and literacy landscape, acknowledging how far scores have come and the long-term work and partnerships that have been essential to this state’s continued success. As both Tatum and Smith pointed out, this was not a miracle, rather a “marathon.” Collaboration across education, medical, legislative and other sectors laid the groundwork and has been the sustaining force behind the implementation of evidence-based practices at the pre-K and elementary levels.

“For the early learning collaboratives, they have to cooperate….You’ve got to work at it, and it doesn’t just happen automatically….We may have differing opinions about things, but we move past it and try to find a solution….The key is continuing those conversations.” – Jill Dent, Ph.D., MS Department of Education

Key takeaways from this conversation include:

• Sustained success depends on extensive support, including training, professional development and coaching.
• Early intervention continues to be crucial in setting children up for success.
• Legislative buy-in and effective policy are major positive contributing factors to success.
• Establishing and maintaining partnerships is key.

“It’s about breaking down those silos and not letting the adult ego get in the way of providing services and supports for our kids in Mississippi….We are open and willing to make compromises because that compromise is going to get us to the end result. That end result is student outcomes and ensuring that our kiddos are becoming productive citizens, able to function in Mississippi, be parents, be part of the community.”
– Tenette Smith, Ed.D., MS Department of Education