Commentary: Big Tent Ideas

AIDEN BUZZETTI: To See Conservative Education Policies Triumph, Look South

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A recent New York Times article portrayed conservative-led education reform as a political performance — more concerned with fighting “woke” ideology than improving student outcomes. The implication is familiar: that Republican efforts in education are all about culture wars, not classrooms. But this telling misses the bigger picture. Beneath the headlines, some of the most meaningful — and effective — education reforms in America today are being driven by conservative leadership. Just look at Mississippi and Louisiana.

These two deep-red states are not exactly known for boasting about education excellence. In fact, for decades, they have struggled near the bottom of the national rankings. But over the last several years, they’ve become two of the most closely watched examples of what’s possible when policymakers take education seriously — and when they are willing to challenge stale systems and tired assumptions.

Let’s start with Mississippi. In 2013, state lawmakers adopted a bold, conservative reform strategy centered on early literacy. They passed the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, requiring third graders to demonstrate reading proficiency before advancing. They shifted teacher training to emphasize phonics and the “science of reading,” a research-based approach that had long been ignored in favor of more trendy, less effective methods. They set higher standards and focused relentlessly on outcomes.

The results speak for themselves. In 2019 — before the pandemic’s disruptions — Mississippi’s fourth-grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) surged past the national average for the first time. And even as other states saw post-pandemic declines, Mississippi has maintained its gains. Black students in Mississippi now outperform Black students in most other states — a stunning turnaround that few would have predicted a decade ago.

Louisiana has followed a similar path. State leaders implemented reforms aimed at getting back to basics — literacy and math. They’ve invested in early-grade teacher training, curriculum overhauls, and targeted interventions like high-dosage tutoring. Instead of playing to education fads or chasing buzzwords, they’ve doubled down on core academic skills. And while progress takes time, early signs are encouraging. Louisiana was the only state to score higher in 4th grade reading in 2024 than 2019.

These victories are not a fluke –  it is the result of sustained, conservative policymaking rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to knowledge — not ideology — and that accountability, high standards, and mastery of the fundamentals are not partisan ideas, but essential ones.

To be clear: the conservative education movement is not only about opposing “woke” excesses. But let’s also not pretend that the culture issues aren’t real. Parents across the country are rightly frustrated when schools prioritize ideological agendas over academic achievement. They’re tired of watching math scores fall while classrooms get bogged down in political messaging. They’re tired of schools eliminating honors classes in the name of “equity,” and even Democrats are responding to those decisions with concern. Conservatives did not manufacture the issue – equity proponents did.

What sets conservative-led states like Mississippi and Louisiana apart is that they’re not just complaining — they’re building. They’re reshaping teacher training, holding schools accountable, embracing research-backed instruction, and refusing to let old political compromises stand in the way of student success.

The critics love to suggest that conservatives are anti-education. But the evidence on the ground tells a different story. Mississippi and Louisiana didn’t get here by accident. Their leaders made intentional, sometimes politically difficult decisions. They stood firm against entrenched interests and were willing to rethink everything from promotion policies to curriculum.

Meanwhile, many blue states — where education bureaucracies remain largely unchanged — are falling behind. The irony is that those who claim to be the guardians of “equity” often preside over systems where low-income and minority students make the least academic progress. In contrast, the conservative reforms in the South have delivered real gains for precisely those students. It’s entirely possible to push back against ideological overreach while also driving real academic reform.

So let’s stop pretending that conservative education policy is just about talking points and culture clashes. It’s about results. It’s about ensuring that every child can read by third grade and master multiplication by fourth. It’s about demanding that schools serve families — not political agendas. And most of all, it’s about the belief that education should open doors, not close minds.

Conservatives aren’t just reacting to problems in education. We’re solving them. And if the rest of the country wants a model to follow, it’s time they looked to the South.

Aiden Buzzetti is the President of the 1776 Project Foundation. He was previously the Director of Coalitions for the 1776 Project PAC and can be found on X at @AidenBuzzetti.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.