Teachers Unions Linked to Lower Reading Scores in States, Study Finds

A new analysis from the center-left think tank Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) suggests a link between the strength of teachers' unions in a state and its performance in early-literacy education. The study found that states with more powerful teachers' unions tend to exhibit weaker literacy performance and have adopted fewer of the policies credited with improving reading outcomes.

Eight of the ten states that scored among the lowest in the PPI's assessment of early-literacy policies were home to strong teachers' unions. Conversely, among the top 60% of states for early-literacy policy scores, only four had powerful teachers' unions. Republican-leaning states like Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Indiana, which have weaker union presence, were noted among those with the best literacy outcomes. In contrast, states such as Maine, New York, Illinois, Hawaii, Washington, and Rhode Island, which are generally led by Democrats and have strong unions, were among the states with the poorest results.

However, the analysis also highlighted exceptions, such as Maryland, a blue state with a strong union that showed strong reading results, and South Dakota, a red state with a weaker union that struggled. These exceptions suggest that union strength and party control alone do not fully explain states' reading performance.

Rachel Canter, director of education policy at PPI and a proponent of educational reforms in Mississippi, noted that Democrats often question the feasibility of replicating Mississippi's success due to the influence of teachers' unions in their states. Canter posits that teachers' unions significantly influence educational policies and their classroom implementation, potentially slowing the adoption of new methods in states where they hold considerable sway.

Mississippi's literacy reforms, implemented with the goal of improving educational outcomes, included kindergarten through third-grade screenings, literacy coaches, individual reading plans, and retention for third graders who did not pass the state reading test. The state also emphasized science-based reading instruction, enhanced teacher training, and stricter licensing requirements.

According to the PPI analysis, states with substantial Democratic leadership have been slower to implement similar reforms, with organized labor potentially contributing to this gap. Teachers' unions reportedly invest significant resources in electing Democrats and promoting left-leaning policies.

Many Republican-led Southern states have adopted educational reforms similar to those in Mississippi, and these states were prominently featured in the PPI's rankings for student literacy. The study suggests that while union strength is a factor, other elements contribute to a state's success or struggle in early literacy education.