Improving reading skills

Ensuring Hoosier students can properly read is the most important thing Indiana's education system can do to help children learn in school. Unfortunately, nearly 1 in 5 third graders in Indiana lack basic reading skills.

This year, Senate Republicans are prioritizing legislation that aims to help ensure all kids have the reading skills they need to be successful.

Senate Bill 1 would address curriculum, assessment, remediation and retention issues in our state's literacy education methods.

The bill would build on a new 2023 law that requires Indiana schools to teach the Science of Reading curriculum.

SB 1 would:

• Provide gold standard Science of Reading instruction to students in kindergarten through eighth grade;
• Commit to early detection and remediation for students not reading at their grade level; and
• As a last resort, retain students who are not reading well enough to move on to fourth grade after a full year of remediation.

The bill would also require Indiana schools to give the IREAD test in second grade, allowing students who pass at this stage to be exempt from taking it again in the future. Students who do not pass would receive targeted support during their third-grade year to help improve their reading skills.

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development, which is scheduled to hear the bill Wednesday, Jan. 17.

To learn more, click here.