Dust swirled with each step as I walked across Mississippi, a journey born from a desperate hope for my South Side Chicago neighborhood. But what I discovered here wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t the backwardness I’d been led to believe, but a quiet revolution unfolding in classrooms across the state.
Children, once trapped in cycles of failing schools, were now charting courses toward brighter futures. This wasn’t a gradual shift, but a dramatic leap forward. Back home, however, the story was tragically different – schools in my community continued to fail the very children they were meant to serve. The disparity was a punch to the gut.
The old narrative – the enlightened North versus the ignorant South – lay shattered at my feet. Mississippi’s transformation, now known as the “Mississippi Miracle,” wasn’t luck. It was a deliberate, focused effort. In 2013, the state languished near the bottom in national reading scores. By 2024, they had surged to ninth place, and first when demographics and poverty were considered.
The catalyst? The 2013 Literacy-Based Promotion Act. This legislation demanded evidence-based phonics instruction, early intervention for struggling readers, and a commitment to ensuring students mastered foundational skills before moving on. It wasn’t a quick fix, but a sustained, strategic investment in its children.
Dr. Carey Wright, former State Superintendent, didn’t call it a miracle. She called it the result of “strong policies, effective implementation, and years of hard work.” Governor Tate Reeves echoed this sentiment, highlighting how conservative reforms and a focus on proven methods had positioned Mississippi as a national leader.
The numbers tell a powerful story. Black fourth graders now rank third in the nation in reading and math. Low-income and Hispanic students are among the top performers. Mississippi students are, for the first time, consistently outperforming the national average. This isn’t just about test scores; it’s about unlocking potential.
The contrast with Chicago is agonizing. Just blocks from the Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center we’re building, Dulles Elementary struggles to stay afloat. Serving a predominantly Black and low-income community, it ranks in the bottom 50% of Illinois schools.
Recent assessments reveal a heartbreaking reality: only 1% to 5% of students are proficient in math, and a mere 3% in reading. Chronic absenteeism runs rampant, and the school consistently falls far below district and state averages. These aren’t just numbers; they represent lost opportunities and diminished futures.
Our center, a $45 million investment, will include a private Christian school for boys from single-parent households. I’m determined to learn from Mississippi’s success, to replicate their model and offer our students a pathway to a better life. We can’t afford to wait for broken systems to fix themselves.
The situation in Chicago feels almost criminal. It’s a form of educational malpractice. Mississippi’s success wasn’t built on ideology, but on clear standards, rigorous teacher training in the science of reading, and the courage to hold students accountable.
Chicago, despite its wealth and resources, remains entangled in bureaucracy, burdened by mandates that distract from proven methods, and steeped in excuses. Blaming systemic issues, while important, cannot overshadow the urgent need to address academic failure directly.
The true backwardness isn’t in the South, but in a system that prioritizes excuses over evidence. From the roads of Mississippi, a powerful message resonates: the chains of low expectations can be broken. It requires bold policy, relentless effort, and unwavering faith in the potential of every child.
Mississippi has proven it’s possible. Chicago must follow. And Project H.O.O.D. will be there to lead the way, one student, one family, one neighborhood at a time.
