JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 22, 2026 — Really Great Reading (RGR) today announced that its comprehensive literacy suite has been approved by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) for Tier I Supplemental use. The announcement also includes approval of RGR’s joint literacy solution with OxEd, a University of Oxford spinout specializing in oral language assessment and instruction, expanding statewide access to evidence-based reading and language instruction for Mississippi districts.

MDE’s approval confirms that RGR’s foundational literacy solutions for PK–12, along with integrated OxEd oral language tools, align with the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards (MCCRS). As a result, the combined programs are now included on the Mississippi State Board of Education’s list of pre-approved vendors for Tier 2 and Tier 3 academic interventions, equipping districts across the state to adopt the solutions to support student outcomes.

Grounded in the Science of Reading, RGR’s structured literacy programs provide systematic, explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, and foundational skills that are essential for early and struggling readers. For more than two decades, RGR has supported educators in translating research into classroom practice through a defined scope and sequence designed to accelerate reading development and sustain long-term gains.

The need for effective, evidence-based literacy instruction remains urgent. While national results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) continue to highlight persistent challenges in reading achievement, Mississippi’s approval reflects a growing emphasis on instructional solutions that demonstrate measurable impact—not just alignment.

“Literacy is at an inflection point, and approval alone is not the goal,” said Karl Rectanus, CEO of Really Great Reading. “Districts need evidence that instruction is improving outcomes for students. This approval expands access to solutions built to help educators identify what is working, strengthen instruction, and deliver measurable, sustained reading gains. That level of accountability is what students deserve.”

RGR’s evidence-based literacy programs are designed to ignite orthographic mapping, strengthen decoding and word recognition, and support diverse learners, including Emergent Bilinguals and students with disabilities. When paired with OxEd’s advanced oral language assessments and instructional tools, educators gain early insight into student needs and the ability to deliver personalized, data-informed instruction at both the whole-class level and within Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.

Recent analyses of RGR–aligned instruction have demonstrated statistically significant improvements in foundational reading skills, with gains sustained over time and observed across diverse student populations, including historically marginalized groups.

The joint RGR–OxEd literacy solution, along with RGR’s foundational skills programs, meets Mississippi’s pre-approved vendor requirements, including full alignment to MCCRS for English Language Arts; accessibility and assessment standards; and a demonstrated track record of effectiveness in improving student literacy outcomes.

Read the full press release.