INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) – Hoosier scholars continue to excel in their reading skills, according to a report released Tuesday by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).
Nearly 89% of students are reading by the end of third grade. The report, based on the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment, determined literacy rates have officially surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Educators saw a historic jump in 2025, including locally. In Allen County, IREAD scores improved in each district. In 2026 across the state, scores climbed 7.5 percentage points compared to 2021. This is the fifth consecutive year IREAD results have reflected steady improvement.
Before 2021, literacy rates in Indiana declined almost every year. The positive turnaround since the pandemic accounts for every student population. Statistics shared by the IDOE highlight notable results in specific categories:
- For the second consecutive year, Black and Hispanic students achieved significant year-over-year gains.
- Black students:
- 4 percentage point increase from 2025 to 2026
- 18.1 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2026
- At 80.1% proficiency, Black students are now within one percentage point of their highest reading levels on record.
- Hispanic students:
- 3.7 percentage point increase from 2025 to 2026
- 11.2 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2026
- Black students:
- Literacy rates for students in special education and students receiving free/reduced price meals have increased for five consecutive years.
- Students in special education:
- 2.3 percentage point increase from 2025 to 2026
- 14.5 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2026
- Students receiving free/reduced price meals:
- 1.5 percentage point increase from 2025 to 2026
- 11.5 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2026
- Students in special education:
- After remaining relatively flat for three years, English learners achieved gains for the second consecutive year, jumping nearly 11 percentage points in just two years.
- Forty percent of Indiana elementary schools – 511 total schools – hit the 95% reading goal. Since 2023, the number of schools hitting the 95% goal has more than doubled.
Our reading scores haven’t just recovered from the pandemic—they’ve surged. Five consecutive years of literacy gains show what’s possible when we stay focused on getting every Hoosier child on the path to success. We’ve surpassed where we were before the pandemic, and we’re not stopping here. Every Indiana student deserves the opportunity to read, learn and succeed, and we will keep pushing to make that a reality.”
Governor Mike Braun
Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, said in a statement the results have prompted education leaders to plan out the use of resources and strategies that actually work for students.
After historic gains last year, seeing these results increase again for the fifth consecutive year is truly remarkable. Our educators, parents, and students should be extremely proud of the results they’ve accomplished together. As more students master reading by the end of third grade, we’re thinking very intentionally about how we deploy supports—that means understanding what works and focusing those proven strategies on the students who need them most, including students in special education and adolescent learners who are still working to master reading. This targeted approach will be key to ensuring every student has strong literacy skills that set them up for future success. In Indiana, our foot will remain on the gas pedal when it comes to continuously improving for students.”
Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education
