Governor Reeves, former State Supt. Wright tell Mississippi’s education success story in new book

Governor Reeves, former State Supt.

Key points

• The waiver allows Mississippi to consolidate $14 million in federal funds through 2029.
• "While I appreciate his input, it carries no legal authority, " House Education Chairman Rob Roberson remarked Friday.
• The book, Do What Works, features a chapter by Governor Tate Reeves and Dr.
• This person now runs Maryland's public schools, highlight how Mississippi went from 49th in the nation in 4th grade reading to a top ten state.
• The book will be featured at bipartisan events at the Obama Presidential Center, the George W.

Governor Reeves, former State Supt. Wright tell Mississippi's education success story in new book. By: Frank Corder – September 29, 2026. Governor Tate Reeves and Dr. Carey Wright.

Meanwhile, the book, Do What Works, features a chapter by Governor Tate Reeves and Dr. Carey Wright, the former Mississippi Superintendent of Education, that centers on the "Mississippi Miracle" and how the state achieved its nationally celebrated education gains.

Mississippi's education success story is prominently featured in a new book sharing how governors, mayors, legislators, and other leaders of both political parties are implementing effective solutions to some of America's toughest challenges.

Meanwhile, the book, Do What Works, is edited by Michele Jolin and David Medina, the Co-Founders of Results for America, a national nonprofit that helps governments nationwide shift billions of dollars to more effective solutions. It presents a collection of essays as a blueprint for how governments throughout the nation can improve results, invest taxpayer dollars more effectively, and rebuild public trust.

In practice, a chapter by Governor Tate Reeves and Dr. Carey Wright, the former Mississippi Superintendent of Education, centers on the "Mississippi Miracle" and how the state achieved its nationally celebrated education gains.

Magnolia Tribune received an advance copy of the chapter from the publisher.

In their chapter, Reeves and Wright. This person now runs Maryland's public schools, highlight how Mississippi went from 49th in the nation in 4th grade reading to a top ten state. The two share the reforms adopted by lawmakers and how they followed a research-based approach to improve reading and overall student achievement. Reeves and Wright additionally share lessons for other states that are now adopting similar Mississippi's reforms.

While our nation-leading education gains are often called the Mississippi Miracle, it really wasn't inexplicable at all, wrote Reeves. It was the result of a deliberate and intentional effort to obtain Mississippi off the bad lists and onto the good lists in education through effective public policy reforms and implementation. It began more than a decade ago and the results have been worth it.

Reeves outlines the work in the Legislature while he was Lt. Governor that led to the policy changes as state authorities sought to improve its struggling education system.

"One of the biggest misconceptions regarding the Mississippi Miracle is that it is a result of one decision. It is not. It stems from a series of reforms that we passed and implemented, " the governor remarked.

For her part, Wright writes that as far as she was concerned, "there was nothing wrong with kids in Mississippi."

"They were just as bright and full of God-given talent as anyone else's kids. They just needed the right strategies in place to support them grow and learn, " she stated. "But I was also well aware of the size of the challenge."

Wright remarked she and her staff set six main goals: proficiency expansion, high-school graduation, early childhood education, professional development for teachers, world-class data systems, and making sure every single school in every single district was session a basic bar.

"Working around those six goals, we developed a simple strategic plan and explained-politely!-to everyone at the department that this was going to be how things worked going forward. Not everybody liked it, and not everybody stuck around to support implement it, " she stated. "But that was okay."

Notably, the former state superintendent writes that she and Reeves developed a really positive relationship. Wright recalled the day the 2019 NAEP scores were published, showing that Mississippi was number one in the nation in reading gains.

"The lieutenant governor was in Chicago that day, but we spoke on the phone as we were both looking at the front-page news, " she remarked. "It deeply touched both of us to see the Magnolia State ranked first in the nation at something to do with education."

"We both believe that success begets success, and even though Carey has moved on to run the schools in Maryland (where they're moving forward on similar reforms), we're both confident that Mississippi's "Miracle" is just getting underway, " Reeves remarked. Other Political Leaders and Stories in the Book. Do What Works shares stories of impact from nationwide.

For example: Denver, Colorado set an ambitious goal of getting one thousand unhoused residents off the streets and achieved it in less than a year. Birmingham, Alabama borrowed a promising early literacy program from Providence, Rhode Island, and tripled the chances its youngest kids would be ready for kindergarten. Dallas, Texas united around shared goals and reduced child poverty faster than any major U.S. City. Ohio invested in its workers and became the No. 1 state in the country to do business.

Other governors, political figures and non-profit leaders featured in the book include.

For context, the book will be featured at bipartisan events at the Obama Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and elsewhere this fall, the publisher remarked. To order a copy, visit here. Regarding the Author(s).

Frank Corder is a native of Pascagoula. For almost two decades, he has noted and offered analysis on administration, public policy, business and matters of faith. Frank's interviews, articles, and columns have been shared throughout Mississippi as well as in national publications. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State. Frank has served his community in both elected and appointed public office, hosted his own local radio and television programs, and managed private businesses all while being an engaged husband and father. Email Frank: [email protected].

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Taken together, the developments around governor Reeves, former State Supt. Wright tell Mississippi’ s education success story in point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.