Indiana students have made significant strides in reading proficiency, with the state now ranking among the top in the nation for fourth- and eighth-grade reading scores.
State Senator Daryl Schmitt of Jasper (District 48) discussed this progress on the Vincennes PBS series Meet Your Legislator over the weekend. According to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, Indiana’s fourth-grade reading ranking improved from 19th in 2022 to 6th in 2024. Eighth-grade scores also saw a boost, jumping from 17th to 6th place.
Education leaders credit this success to dedicated teachers, strategic state investments in literacy, and the implementation of the Science of Reading program. Indiana lawmakers have prioritized literacy initiatives, including Senate Enrolled Act 1, which focuses on early identification and intervention for struggling readers.
Schmitt emphasized that these improvements reflect both teacher dedication and significant state investments calling it an awesome testament to the teachers.
He went on to comment that the Senate supported legislation in 2022 that required schools to align curriculum to the Science of Reading, which required teacher preparation programs to train new teachers in the new program.
He said that Indiana has allocated $170 million toward literacy programs, including $60 million from the 2023 state budget, $26 million from federal stimulus funds, and $85 million from the Lilly Endowment.
