STATEHOUSE – Starke County lawmakers are celebrating Hoosier students’ scores on the 2026 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment rising for the fifth consecutive year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
State Rep. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) said more than 88% of Hoosier third graders passed IREAD, a nearly 1.5 percentage point increase from last year. It’s the second-largest single-year increase since the test was implemented.
“Indiana continues to invest in a quality education for young Hoosiers and our latest IREAD scores reflect it,” Culp said. “Through targeted support and the dedication of Hoosier educators, we are seeing more students succeeding academically.”
State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) noted that literacy rates for every student population are now higher than before the pandemic.
“Continued gains in early literacy are something we can all be proud of, and I’m grateful to our students, teachers and families for making these foundational skills a priority,” Pressel said. “Their hard work and dedication are paying off, with more Hoosier students building the reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.”
Local school corporation pass rates for the most recent IREAD exams include 85% for Knox Community School Corp., 88% for North Judson-San Pierre School Corp. and 100% for Oregon-Davis School Corp.
A law in 2023 established science of reading standards and delivered focused support to Indiana students facing the most significant reading difficulties. Additional legislation bolstered the Indiana Department of Education’s literacy cadre program to ensure schools with fewer than 70% of students passing IREAD receive additional resources and support.
In the current state budget, Indiana increased K-12 tuition support by $640 million, a 5% increase over the biennium, to its highest level yet. Nearly half of our state budget goes toward K-12 education (47%). Indiana also expanded its school choice scholarship program, empowering all Hoosier families to choose the school environment that is best for their students.
Results from the 2026 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on IDOE’s website. Click here to learn more about the state’s literacy standards.
