STATEHOUSE (Aug. 18, 2022) — Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner, in collaboration with Lilly Endowment Inc., announced the state's largest financial investment in literacy today, said State Sen. Linda Rogers (R-Granger).
Together, the State of Indiana and Lilly Endowment have invested $111 million to support early literacy development using proven teaching techniques that align with the Science of Reading, a research-based strategy that uses practices such as phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
Of the $111 million, Lilly Endowment has approved a grant of up to $60 million, as well as $25 million to support Indiana's colleges and universities in incorporating Science of Reading methods into their undergraduate elementary teacher preparation programs.
The funds will be used to reach four main goals:
"As the chair of the Senate Committee on Family and Children Services and a member on the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development, I am excited to see funding being invested in children's education, as reading is the foundation for all education," said Rogers. "In the past few years, Indiana ILEARN test scores have shown that students have struggled in retaining the reading skills needed for future academic and life success. With the implementation of the Science of Reading in classrooms, I am confident our Hoosier children will be able to improve their reading skills and build the foundation they need for the future."
Through IDOE funding, 54 schools across the state are piloting the Science of Reading instructional coaching this fall. The state hopes to have 60% of Indiana elementary schools using this technique by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
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Click here for a high-resolution photo of Rogers.
