The Southern Surge: focus on best practices [Part 2]

The Southern surge is impossible to miss.

Against tough challenges like poverty, states like Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana have pulled off remarkable improvements in student achievement. Reading and math scores in these states as shown by the 2024 NAEP data are a testament to educators. Through a clear focus and a relentless drive to measure what matters, progress is possible even in places where challenges run deep. We did a brief overview of the Surge itself in our part 1 blog post and now we are looking at the biggest question: What comes next? How can other states, whether they’re coasting in the middle of the pack or struggling at the bottom, learn from these successes and chart their own path forward post-pandemic? Let’s look at some of the winning strategies.

1. The Science of Reading: A Proven Path to Higher Achievement

Reading is the gateway skill. Once kids learn to read, they spend the rest of their lives reading to learn. A focus on reading needs to be at the forefront in any state trying to replicate the Southern Surge’s success. But what does that look like in practice? 

• Commit to evidence-based reading instruction. Not the latest fad, but approaches grounded in decades of cognitive science. Three-cueing and “guess and check” methods have been outlawed in many of these states for good reason. 

• Support teachers with real training and coaching. A curriculum is only as good as the teachers delivering it. Remember, the single most important factor in a child’s education after their parents is a highly effective teacher. Train teachers in high-quality instructional materials, coach leadership, and embed literacy mentors, adults trained in the science of reading who support educators with instruction.

• Collect data and use it to inform supports. If kids aren’t reading on grade level by third grade, the odds of catching up later shrink dramatically. You need to be capturing the data frequently and reviewing it extensively.

2. Scaling High-Dosage Tutoring in Schools

High-dosage tutoring is frequent, structured, aligned to classroom learning and accelerates learning. If it can be integrated into the school day itself, even better.

Tennessee leaned hard into this model and saw strong results. So did Louisiana.

Other states can follow suit by:

• Embedding tutoring into the school day so it isn’t dependent on families arranging transportation or juggling schedules.

• Focusing on core subjects like math and reading, where unfinished learning has the biggest long-term impact.

• Training tutors, not just hiring warm bodies. The best programs equip tutors with tools, materials, and ongoing coaching. Many programs utilized classroom teachers and saw great results, but even a high schooler can help with enough training. 

  
  

Done right, tutoring can be the bridge that helps students recover from pandemic learning gaps and accelerate their learning.

3. Using Data to Drive Student Growth

The common denominator in the Southern Surge is not money, demographics, or politics. It’s data. States that improved fastest embraced a cycle of identify, act, assess, iterate.

But here’s the kicker: data isn’t just for policymakers and superintendents. The real power comes when students, families, and teachers see progress in ways that are clear and motivating. Other states can replicate this by:

• Building user-friendly data tools. A spreadsheet no one reads isn’t progress. We think the Iberville parish attendance dashboard gets it right with its heavy emphasis on visuals. 

• Celebrating wins publicly. Progress is contagious when communities see it happening. Your students should know when they get to their next achievement level. Celebrate it with them!. 

• Using data for improvement, not punishment. When data builds trust instead of fear, people lean in.

• Engage families. Parents need to know how to support at home. Imagine if every parent could easily see how their child was growing in reading month by month. They can better celebrate wins and support teacher efforts when they’re engaged and informed. 

4. Persistence: The Long Game in Education Reform

Here’s the part that’s hardest to swallow: results don’t come overnight. Mississippi’s rise in reading scores was a decade in the making, and Louisiana’s turnaround was similarly the result of decades of investing in high quality instructional materials. 

For states that want to see real gains, use the following guides:

• Pick a few big bets and stick with them. You need to have a few key initiatives but they need to be big ones. Tinkering around the edges  does not produce the kind of growth students need to reach mastery.

• Resist the temptation to switch methods. There will always be another educational fad. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that kids can’t afford another round of whiplash policies. They need steady, focused leadership.

• Retain your workforce. You have to keep your great teachers. But teachers are drowning under a morass of bureaucratic bloat. Simplify and get laser focused on fundamentals. Reducing leadership churn will help. 

Final Thoughts and How to Take Action

The Southern states have proven that improvement is possible even in the face of daunting odds. Now it’s time for others to take up the challenge. Whether it’s doubling down on reading, scaling tutoring, or cutting the clutter so teachers can shine, states can accelerate learning. The playbook is open. The question is, who will have the courage to run it?

At IDS, we’re committed to helping educational organizations harness data, clarify strategy, and make real progress for kids. If you’re ready to move from ideas to action, please reach out! We’d love to help you create your own surge.

About Instructional Data Solutions: Our mission is to remove barriers to enable education organizations to focus on what matters most. We assist school systems and education organizations of all sizes by collecting, analyzing, and clearly communicating data. We are committed to empowering educators through comprehensive data analytics and tailored support. Additionally, we provide dedicated support for operational needs, process improvement, and special projects, offering customized solutions to enhance effectiveness and success. Our solutions bridge the gap between data collection and instructional improvement in PK-12 settings.