House Bill 857, sponsored by Rep. John Faulkner, would expand the state’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act from kindergarten through 3rd grade to students in grades 4 through 8.
Based on the positive outcomes the state has seen through 3rd grade, this proposes to improve literacy outcomes among middle-grade students through evidence-based interventions, professional support for educators, and expanded resources for struggling readers.
Under the proposed legislation:
- Professional learning programs will provide training grounded in the “science of reading,” focusing on structured, evidence-based instruction in areas such as phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
- Universal screeners will be administered three times a year to assess student reading proficiency and identify those at risk for poor outcomes.
- Schools will offer tailored interventions for students with significant reading deficiencies, including a credit-bearing structured literacy course for students in grades 6–8.
- Schools will receive targeted literacy resources and will be required to adhere to rigorous implementation standards for middle-grade literacy programs.
- Parents or guardians will be notified within 15 days if their child is identified as having a significant reading deficiency. The notification will outline the proposed interventions and support services.
Empower Mississippi supports this legislation
House Bill 857 died in the House of Representatives on February 13.
