This report shares the findings from a study of early grade reading skills and classroom practices in Mali which was conducted in three regions of Mali (Koulikoro, Sikasso and Ségou) in May 2015 at the end of the school year. Children in Grade 2 in classique and curriculum schools were assessed in letter-sound identification, individual word and short story reading, and reading comprehension. Children in medersas were assessed in basic oral French vocabulary knowledge. One class was selected for classroom observation in each of the sampled schools in order to help better understand prevailing teaching practice in the sampled schools.