Analysis Finds Strong Unions in Most States With Weak Literacy Policies

By Andrew Powell (/journals/andrew-powell)

A new analysis from the Progressive Policy Institute is examining a notable connection among teachers’ union strength, early-literacy policies, and reading performance across the country. The center-left think tank’s analysis found that eight of the 10 states with the weakest early-literacy policy scores had strong teachers’ unions, according to Fox News. By comparison, only four states in the top 60% for literacy policy scores were classified as having strong unions. The analysis also found that several states with weaker unions, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Indiana, have posted strong literacy results. Several states with powerful unions, including Maine, New York, Illinois, Hawaii, Washington and Rhode Island, were among those with weaker outcomes in the analysis. The relationship is not consistent across every state. Maryland, for example, has both a strong teachers’ union and strong reading results, while South Dakota has weaker union influence but has struggled academically. Those differences indicate that union strength and political control do not, by themselves, account for variations in student performance. Rachel Canter, PPI’s director of education policy, analyzed the issue with colleagues by comparing teacher-union strength with states’ early-literacy policies. Canter previously spent years working on education reforms in Mississippi. Canter argues that unions can affect both the adoption of education policies and how those policies are carried out in schools. She said states with stronger union influence can face greater resistance when attempting to make significant changes to classroom instruction. Mississippi has become a key example in the debate. The state adopted measures including early reading screenings, individual reading plans, literacy coaches and additional training for teachers, along with policies allowing third-graders who failed reading tests to be held back. The state also expanded science-based reading instruction and strengthened teacher licensing requirements. PPI’s analysis found that Democratic-led states had adopted an average of nine of 18 literacy policies recommended by ExcelinEd, compared with 13.5 among Republican and swing states. Canter said organized labor may help explain part of that difference. At the same time, the analysis does not establish that teachers’ unions directly cause weaker literacy outcomes. The examples of Maryland and South Dakota, along with differences in state education systems and demographics, point to a more complicated set of factors behind student reading performance. The findings add another layer to an ongoing national debate over how states can improve early literacy and how much influence teachers’ unions should have over education policy.