Same-Race Teacher Effects on Third Grade Literacy Scores in Mississippi

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 11:40 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Interrogating Teacher Education Preparation, Advocacy, and Assessment (Table 9)

Abstract

Since 2011, Mississippi has seen significant improvements in student literacy rates on both the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP). However, there has been limited focus on how this progress affects Black students. This regression discontinuity study analyzes administrative classroom data from Jackson Public Schools, using results from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program between the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 school years. The study investigates whether having a Black teacher influences Black student literacy as the state works toward its goal of having 70% of students reading proficiently by 2025.

Authors

• Phelton Cortez Moss, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Jeffrey Wooten, Virginia Commonwealth University

• kecia hayes, American University

• Antonio L. Ellis, American University