From New York Post · · 1m 20s
Strong teachers' unions linked to lower reading scores
A new study finds Democratic states with powerful unions lag behind Republican states in student literacy.
In brief
A new study finds Democratic states with powerful unions lag behind Republican states in student literacy. States with weaker teachers' unions have adopted more literacy reforms and see better student reading scores. Originally reported by New York Post.
Union power tracks with literacy gaps
Eight of the ten worst-performing states for student literacy were Democratic strongholds with powerful teachers' unions. Top performers were mostly Republican states with weaker unions.
New York among the worst
More than half of New York's third- to fifth-graders failed reading proficiency exams this year. The state also has some of the nation's strongest teachers' unions.
Republicans dominate top performers
Of the 23 top-performing states, 13 were Republican and just 4 were Democratic. Even stretching to the top 32, only 7 were Democratic states.
“Democrats, however, don't often ask me how to replicate Mississippi's success.”
Union states slower on reforms
Democratic states adopted an average of 9 recommended literacy policies, while Republican and swing states implemented 13.5 on average.
“States dominated by Democrats have been slower to embrace similar reforms.”
Mississippi's dramatic turnaround
Mississippi went from worst to seventh in literacy by 2024. The state required struggling third-graders to repeat the year and mandated teacher training at low-performing schools.
The correlation is strong
The study found a clear negative relationship between union power and literacy policy adoption. More powerful unions meant fewer reforms implemented.
“The more powerful the unions, the fewer literacy policy principles the state had adopted.”
At a glance
States with weaker teachers' unions have adopted more literacy reforms and see better student reading scores.
