How did Mississippi — long seen as one of the worst states in America for education — become one of the fastest-improving in the country? In this episode, education reformer Rachel Canter joins Ravi Gupta to unpack the “Mississippi Miracle” — the controversial policies, hard choices, and cultural shifts that transformed student outcomes against all odds. They explore why Mississippi’s success challenges assumptions across the political spectrum — and what the rest of the country may be getting wrong about education.
Ravi’s recent piece on Hasan Piker: A Party of Posers (May 2026)
Rachel Canter’s Atlantic article: States are Learning the Wrong Lesson from the Mississippi Miracle (April 2026)
Rachel Canter’s full report: Inside the Mississippi Marathon (April 2026)
Our award winning podcast about New Orleans schools: Where the School’s Went (August 2025)
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