| by Tim O’Brien | |||||
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I’m proud to share that Indiana is making progress in improving third grade literacy. Recent data from the 2024-2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment show a nearly five percentage point increase in literacy rates statewide, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. More than 87% of Hoosier third graders demonstrated proficiency in reading, putting Indiana’s literacy rate at this grade level back to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, for the first time, Indiana third-graders saw improvement across all student populations. |
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I also want to celebrate the outstanding literacy achievements in our community. Congratulations to Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. on achieving an 83 percent IREAD pass rate and Warrick County School Corp. for a 96 percent rate. Your dedication is making a real difference in the lives of our children. These IREAD results follow Indiana placing sixth in the country for fourth and eighth grade reading in the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) rankings. To improve Indiana’s literacy rates, the General Assembly passed a law in 2023 implementing science of reading standards, which is evidence-based instruction that increases students’ reading competency through phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, fluency, oral language skills and comprehension. A law passed in 2024 added screenings for students at risk of falling behind on reading proficiency and providing earlier intervention. |
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As your state representative, I am committed to continuing these efforts so every Hoosier student has the tools to succeed. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make Indiana a great place for our children to learn and grow. Results from the 2025 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on the Indiana Department of Education’s website. Click here to learn more about the state’s literacy standards. |
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