Teaching and Learning

Mississippi To Receive $100 Million Gift for Reading: Mississippi's 2-year-old reading initiative has received a big boost with a $100 million donation for teacher education, professional development, and instructional materials.

James L. Barksdale, a Mississippi resident and former chief executive officer of the Internet company Netscape, and his wife, Sally, donated the money, which will be used to establish a reading institute at the University of Mississippi and other state universities.

The gift, announced this month, will allow the state to expand its reading program—which emphasizes systematic phonics instruction, as well as other teaching methods—from the 41 schools now piloting the plan to hundreds more throughout the state over...