Indiana Third-Grader IREAD Test Scores Up Over Last Year

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STATEWIDE — Third grade students in Indiana are showing improvements in their reading skills, reports the state Department of Education.

The 2023-2024 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) report released Wednesday shows over 67,000 third graders (82.5-percent) show “proficient” reading skills during the latest IREAD exam. The Indiana Department of Education says this is a 0.6-percent improvement over 2022’s scores, which in of itself was an improvement from the year before.

“When it comes to supporting every child to reach their full potential, the single-most important thing we can do is help them learn to read,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education in a Wednesday press release, “over the past three years, Indiana has made historic investments in ensuring educators and families have the tools and resources they need to best support our students, and today, we are seeing positive results from this all-hands-on-deck approach. Our collective hard work is paying off, yet there is still more to be done. Let’s continue to work together and continue this positive momentum for Indiana and most importantly, our students.”

Indiana’s literacy rates declined every year since IREAD’s creation in 2013, except for 2014 to 2015.

The state education department says this year’s scores represents the largest-ever single-year increase and continues a three-year increase.

Further breakdown from the IREAD results:

Black students:
3.2 percentage point increase from 2023 to 2024
6.6 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2024

Students in special education:
2.2 percentage point increase from 2023 to 2024
4.7 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2024

Students receiving free/reduced price meals:
1.8 percentage point increase from 2023 to 2024
3.4 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2024

The state Department of Education says Hispanic students and English learners went through decreases in reading proficiency, scoring 0.3-percent and 0.4-percent lower respectively. The department says targeted reading support is still needed for certain students.

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