Our Focus | MSGLR

SCHOOL READINESS

Too many children start school already at a disadvantage. In their first four years of life, "an average child in a professional household would accumulate experience with almost 45 million words; an average child in a working-class household 26 million words; and an average child in a household facing economic challenges 13 million words" (Hart & Risley, 2003).

In Mississippi, 2 out of every 3 students enter kindergarten without key foundational skills—such as recognizing that printed text carries meaning, identifying some letters and numbers, and distinguishing basic colors and shapes.

Hart, B., & Risley, T. R. (2003). The early catastrophe: The 30 million word gap. American Educator, 27, 4-9.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Many children facing economic and social barriers miss too many days of school. School attendance is critical to student success. Missing 10% or more of the school year—about 18 days—can significantly undermine a child’s learning and long-term outcomes.

During the 2024-2025 school year, Mississippi’s chronic absenteeism rate was 27.6%, which was an increase over the 2023-2024 school year (MDE, 2025). That’s a significant loss of valuable classroom time needed to build essential academic skills.

MS CGLR communities support school attendance by looking at the whole picture and recognizing that challenges related to health and personal wellness, transportation, and family responsibilities can impact daily attendance.

MDE: Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement & Dropout Prevention – Chronic Absenteeism Report

SUMMER LEARNING

Research indicates that children with limited access to enrichment and learning opportunities often experience setbacks in academic performance during the summer months. These learning losses are especially pronounced in the early grades (K–3) and are most significant in literacy and language development.

MS CGLR communities and their coalition members work together to create quality summer learning opportunities that help prevent learning loss, especially in populations with fewer access points to enrichment and academic supports.