Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Nearly 1 in 5 third graders in Indiana lack basic reading skills which is why this year Senate Republicans' top priority was to ensure all Hoosier students have the reading skills they need to be successful.
Senate Enrolled Act 1 offers a comprehensive plan to help students achieve reading proficiency by addressing curriculum, assessment, remediation and, as a last resort, retention.
SEA 1 requires schools to provide kindergarten through eighth grade reading instruction aligned with Science of Reading curriculum. Senate Republicans have previously championed several laws to ensure the Science of Reading is taught in every Indiana classroom, including the 2023 state budget, which provided $60 million in funding for reading initiatives.
SEA 1 also requires schools to give the IREAD test to students in second grade, allowing those who pass at this stage to be exempt from taking the test again in the future. With this change, students who do not pass must receive targeted support during third grade to help them improve their reading skills.
After three chances to take IREAD and a full year of remediation, SEA 1 requires some students to be retained if they are unable to pass the test.
Our students first learn to read, then read to learn, which is why it is critical for our students, teachers, schools and state to place such a high priority on our students' reading skills.
SEA 1 went into effect July 1 and will begin being implemented during the 2024-2025 school year.
To learn more about this law, click here.
