5 days ago
We brought Indiana's third-grade reading scores from crisis to celebration
Just two years ago, Indiana faced a sobering reality: nearly 1 in 5 third-graders could not read proficiently, and our state was grappling with what many rightfully called a literacy crisis. That moment demanded more than acknowledgment — it demanded action.
And Indiana acted.
This week, we received news that reflects just how far we've come: our 2025 IREAD assessment results show a nearly 5 percentage point increase in third grade reading proficiency in just one year — the largest gain in Indiana's recorded history. This equates to 73,500 third-grade students reading. We know that these are more than just numbers. These are individual students' lives that have been impacted for the better.
To put that into perspective, for states across our country, increasing proficiency rates even one to two percentage points in one school year can be challenging, even with significant investment and effort. In Indiana, the previous record for the largest year-over-year increase was set in 2024, and was less than 1 percentage point. The momentum we are seeing now across Indiana is nothing short of extraordinary — and it signals more than just progress. It signals a movement.
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That movement is fueled by the daily, tireless work of Indiana's educators — our teachers, instructional coaches, school leaders, and support staff — who are bringing science of reading to life in classrooms through evidence-based literacy practices and an unwavering belief in every student's potential. It is equally powered by the dedication of parents and communities, who are reinforcing this approach at home and cultivating environments where reading is supported, encouraged, and celebrated.
To every educator: thank you. Your commitment is changing lives. Schools that received embedded instructional coaching and support through the Indiana Literacy Cadre had a 7 percentage point increase in students passing IREAD, or nearly double that of schools that did not participate in the Literacy Cadre.
From the start, we knew that improving literacy would take all of us — and now we're seeing the incredible progress that's possible when we rise to that call together. This success is a testament to the power of unprecedented collaboration and synergy in schools and communities in every corner of our state. With a combined $170 million investment from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Indiana General Assembly, Indiana has launched one of the most ambitious early literacy initiatives in the nation — rooted in science of reading and strengthened by aligned policy, robust training, and strategic resources.
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This is just the beginning. Every child deserves to be a confident, capable reader by the end of third grade. We must stay focused, stay aligned, and keep our foot on the gas pedal in order for us to reach our goal of 95% proficiency by 2027.
So this week, let's celebrate what happens when a state comes together for its kids. Because this is what real impact looks like.
