Statewide reforms in Mississippi have produced sharp gains on national tests, with case studies like Hazlehurst Elementary cited as examples of rapid improvement. Reporting on the state’s results highlights changes in leadership, curriculum focus and accountability measures that drove the turnaround. Higher-education leaders and teacher-preparation programs should review the playbook: successful K–12 interventions affect college readiness, teacher-supply pipelines and partnership opportunities. Universities can position research and teacher-training capacity to support district-level reforms and scale effective practices.