Monday, November 27, 2023
Reading is an important school and life skill for young Hoosiers to grasp.
According to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), roughly one in five Hoosier third graders were not reading at their grade level during the 2021-22 school year.
During the 2023 legislative session, the Indiana General Assembly approved House Enrolled Act 1558, which is intended to help improve reading skills among students in Indiana's schools.
HEA 1558 defines the science of reading and offers support for students experiencing challenges when learning to read.
The General Assembly also allocated $20 million in the 2024-25 budget so school districts can implement the science of reading throughout Indiana.
Recently, IDOE announced the recipients of nearly $15 million in grants to help schools implement the program.
This financial assistance was given to 72 school corporations that serve more than 65,000 students across Indiana.
For a list of grant recipients, click here.
During the 2024 legislative session, Senate Republicans are interested in exploring more ways to help ensure third graders can read at their grade level. This may include retaining students in third grade who are not ready for fourth grade, since it becomes more and more difficult to help offer students remediation as they move up in school.
To learn more about the science of reading, click here.
For a list of resources on the science of reading compiled by IDOE, click here.
