In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are chasing a miracle.

It has nothing to do with religion or science or medicine.

For the moment, at least.

What the members of our state’s General Assembly are after is far more complicated.

It’s something that’s been worked on for years and something that’s had moderate success. And it’s something that can certainly be better.

Simply put, the goal here is ensuring that third graders can read.

Earlier this month, the Senate Education Committee approved a measure to hopefully make sure that happens.

Senate Bill 801 would create a screening process to identify struggling readers and implement plans to prevent children from falling behind. The proposal comes after last year’s test scores show almost half of the state’s students aren’t proficient in reading.

State Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, called for a public hearing on the plan after reading a news story about how Mississippi successfully improved its education system without massive spending increases after years of ranking among the worst educated states in the nation.

Argall said that in today’s world, it’s impossible to function without being able to read. “Yet we’re seeing very high rates of illiteracy across Pennsylvania and the nation.

“We need to focus on the basics,” he said. “We cannot afford to fail our children in this regard.

In the other chamber, House Bill 998 is working its way through the legislative process.

Rep. Jason Ortitay, a Republican representing Washington and Allegheny counties, called the measure “a great first step.”

He said the bill includes early screening for students in kindergarten through third grade and requires the use of evidence-based structured literacy backed by scientific data. It also creates a reading council to help develop curriculum and resources for all school districts and provides teachers with professional development and training, establishes grants to help schools offset the cost of implementing the program.

In both plans, third graders would be screened three times during a school year and adjustments would be made to accommodate students at risk.

The proposals differ somewhat from what has become known to many in educational circles as the “Mississippi Miracle.”

The reference is to the progress that state made in improving student literacy and academic achievement.

Lawmakers there in 2013 passed what they call the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which mandates that third graders must achieve grade level reading skills before advancing to fourth grade.

In other words, any student who doesn’t meet the requirements doesn’t get to fourth grade unless they make it happen.

The program has withstood the test of time, with recent data showing advanced reading skills across the state, even during COVID related closures.

Fourth graders in Mississippi get high scores among states, especially since students can get there only when they’re truly ready. Students in Mississippi aren’t promoted merely on social considerations.

There are, however, some differences between the two states.

Mississippi has about 140 school districts compared to the 500 here in Pennsylvania. There are fewer schools, fewer administrators, fewer teachers and fewer students.

The socioeconomic considerations are different, too. Issues of poverty, racism and public health are more common in the south.

The Pennsylvania proposals don’t include holding back a student because they can’t meet the standards. Here, proponents will rely on coaching and reinforcement to ensure a student’s success.

Locally, the bills couldn’t come at a better time. Scores of students in grades K-8 from the state Department of Education show less than favorable numbers for school districts in area schools.

For instance, in Carbon County, Palmerton Area comes in with the highest number of students at just 42% proficiency. Weatherly Area is next at 41%, followed by Lehighton at 39.8%, Jim Thorpe Area at 39.3% and Panther Valley at 31.2%.

Pleasant Valley is 41.5% proficient, Northern Lehigh is 36.6% proficient, and Tamaqua is at 40.0%

Beginning to change those numbers with third graders is a good place to start. Sustaining and improving the numbers through the eighth grade - and beyond – may be more troublesome.

Replicating Mississippi’s success requires using the same ideas in a local context. Some states have already started the process - each of them with unique circumstances.

In Pennsylvania, as the process unfolds, even with its bipartisan nature, there will certainly be a few tweaks before the measure reaches the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro.

The governor, in his latest budget, has proposed the largest-ever increase in funding for public schools. Maybe there’ll be some left over to help third graders read.

It may take a little longer than first thought, but working miracles is never easy.

Ed Socha is a retired newspaper editor with more than 40 years’ experience in community journalism. Reach him at tneditor@tnonline.com.