Math & reading standards and testing in Mississippi
Updated June 2026
Mississippi uses its own College- and Career-Readiness Standards, revised from Common Core, with a strong early-literacy focus tied to its third-grade reading gate. Students in grades 3-8 take the MAAP each spring.
Does Mississippi hold kids back in 3rd grade for reading?
Yes. Under the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, 3rd graders must reach Level 3 (Passing) on MAAP reading, with retakes, to advance; those who do not may be retained absent a good-cause exemption.
Standards
Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards
Mississippi sets its own grade-level expectations rather than using Common Core, though the core math and reading skills are similar grade to grade.
The key test
The Mississippi state test
MAAP covers both math and reading in grades 3-8.
Reading the results
Spring, with retake opportunities.
Five levels: Minimal, Basic, Passing, Proficient, Advanced.
On grade level means at least Level 3 (Passing) on MAAP reading for 3rd-grade promotion; full proficiency is Level 4.
What's distinctive about Mississippi
Mississippi's 2013 Literacy-Based Promotion Act is widely credited with the 'Mississippi Miracle' reading gains.
Practice the skills, by grade
Whatever Mississippi calls its test, the underlying math and reading skills are grade-level. Practice them directly:
Practice the skills behind the test
Mississippi writes its own standards. What a third grader has to do does not change: multiply, find the main idea, read a paragraph and say what it meant. KangarooKiddo drills those skills in daily sessions of a handful of questions that end on their own. You see where your kid actually stands, they earn rewards you set up and approve.
Source: Mississippi Department of Education. Verified for the 2025-26 school year; policies can change, so confirm with your school.