Oklahoma urged to prioritise early literacy investment over headline test gains

Oklahoma is facing renewed scrutiny over its longstanding struggle with reading proficiency among primary school pupils, prompting calls from the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy for a more responsible and better-funded approach to literacy reform.

The state has persistently ranked near the bottom nationally for reading comprehension in early education. Policymakers have introduced several measures in recent years, including the passage of Senate Bill 362—known as the Strong Readers Act—which removed the “good-cause exemption” previously available for pupils who failed to demonstrate reading proficiency by the end of Year 3.

Mississippi model draws attention from policymakers

Some legislators and education reform advocates have urged the state to follow the model of Mississippi, where a decade-long overhaul of early literacy laws—commonly described as the “Mississippi Miracle”—led to significant improvements in national assessment scores. Those reforms placed strong emphasis on phonics-based instruction, mandatory retention for pupils below reading grade level, and expanded use of literacy coaches and regular reading screenings.

These measures, however, came with major financial commitments. Mississippi, historically the poorest state in the United States, invested heavily despite economic constraints. Its longstanding position at or near the bottom of national social and economic rankings led to the well-worn phrase, “Thank God for Mississippi,” used by other low-performing states relieved to avoid last place. According to the advocacy group, Mississippi “decided that being a laughingstock was unacceptable, and they did many things right.”

Advocacy group warns against superficial gains

The OICA argues that while Oklahoma’s reading outcomes should be viewed with equal seriousness, policymakers must resist adopting reforms designed merely to lift test scores without addressing underlying issues. It warns that holding back pupils at Year 3 to improve Year 4 metrics masks the state’s challenges rather than solving them. “Those retained third graders did not go away; we simply tested fewer children by isolating those who lacked earlier reading support,” the organisation states.

Retention also carries a high financial cost. Estimates from Business Insider and the Education Commission of the States place the annual expense of holding back a Year 3 pupil at up to $10,000 per student, placing further pressure on local school budgets.

Long-term impacts of retention highlight risks

Beyond financial strain, the advocacy group highlights the long-term social impact of grade retention. “For the child, the trauma associated with being held back will impact them for the rest of their lives, spelling out point-blank to them that they are a failure, not that the system failed them,” the statement reads. Research supports these concerns: a 2011 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that pupils not reading proficiently by Year 3 were four times more likely to leave secondary school without a diploma.

Across the United States, around half of states—along with the District of Columbia—require schools to retain pupils who do not meet reading benchmarks by the end of Year 3. Yet, in recent years, several states have softened such rules. Michigan, for example, has relaxed its retention requirements after concerns about cost and long-term educational outcomes. Research conducted there last year found that school districts were spending about $2,600 per pupil annually on reading initiatives, including tutoring and summer programmes for at-risk pupils and repeat-year students.

Funding and teacher quality remain key concerns

The OICA contends that any successful policy in Oklahoma must be matched with sustainable funding, particularly to ensure classrooms are staffed by qualified educators versed in reading fundamentals such as phonics. It warns against reliance on emergency-certified teachers or long-term substitutes, particularly in early education where literacy foundations are formed.

“OICA wholeheartedly supports and encourages policies which will aid young children with achieving an elevated level of reading comprehension,” the statement concludes. “Let’s learn from the mistakes made by other states and do it in a way which elevates learning, not just test scores.”

Economic implications underscore the urgency

The debate over early literacy reform is expected to intensify as lawmakers consider whether to reinstate stricter retention measures or pursue broader investments in early-years instruction. For business leaders and policymakers alike, the issue carries long-term economic implications: literacy outcomes in primary school remain a strong predictor of workforce readiness, graduation rates and regional economic competitiveness.