A New York Times opinion column is putting Alabama’s public schools in the national spotlight, praising the state as a national leader in post-pandemic academic recovery and pointing to its accountability and early literacy policies as a model other states could follow.
Opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote that Alabama — along with Mississippi and Louisiana — is driving what he described as a Southern education “surge,” with measurable gains in math, reading, attendance, and student performance even as many states continue to struggle with lingering learning loss.
Kristof called the progress noteworthy because it is emerging from states that historically ranked near the bottom in national education outcomes.
“Hope emerges in the most unlikely of places,” Kristof wrote, pointing to three Deep South states that have posted some of the strongest recovery metrics in the country.
According to the column, Alabama ranks No. 1 in the nation in math recovery from pandemic learning losses and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate among states included in a 40-state attendance tracker.
Kristof also cited demographic-adjusted analyses showing Mississippi and Louisiana ranking at or near the top nationally in several grade-level reading and math measures, alongside Alabama’s recovery gains.
He credited the improvements to a consistent focus on measurable outcomes, early reading mastery, school accountability systems, and firm attendance enforcement — rather than shifting standards or grading practices.
The most important lesson, Kristof wrote, is an emphasis on “metrics, accountability and mastery of reading by the end of third grade,” along with making sure students are consistently in class.
The column highlights Alabama’s use of school report cards tied in part to performance and attendance, structured truancy interventions, and statewide academic standards aligned with reading and math proficiency goals.
Governor Kay Ivey responded to the national recognition by saying the results reflect deliberate policy decisions and sustained work by educators and families across the state.
“Alabama is leading what some are calling a ‘Southern surge’ in student achievement — and there’s nothing accidental about it. We have raised the bar, our students are rising to meet it and our focus on accountability and attendance is paying off. The work continues!” Ivey said.
Yellowhammer News earlier reported that the Separate National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data — often referred to as America’s Report Card — has shown Alabama posting some of the nation’s strongest fourth-grade math recovery gains since the pre-COVID testing cycle, along with notable improvement in fourth grade reading and several student subgroups.
Kristof concluded that states across the country — including higher-spending systems — could learn from the policy structure and execution underway in Alabama and its Southern peers, arguing that the gains show academic progress is achievable with consistent standards and accountability.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
