Mississippi transformed from 49th in US education rankings to top 10 for fourth-grade reading by combining aggressive state oversight, phonics-based instruction, literacy coaching, and accountability systems that reward progress over absolute scores—proving poverty isn't destiny. Mississippi schools use explicit phonics instruction and vocabulary teaching rather than implicit reading strategies, with state-vetted curricula and literacy coaches mentoring teachers in real time. Schools are held accountable through A-to-F letter grades based on student growth and improvement, with double weight given to bottom 25% of students' gains, motivating progress for all learners.