Indiana has made significant investments in K-12 education over the last decade, and students are experiencing consistent, measurable academic gains. Reading proficiency is climbing, math performance is improving and graduation rates are reaching record highs.
Since 2016, Indiana has increased education funding by 41 percent, representing an additional $2.8 billion investment in classrooms across the state. In the most recent state budget, lawmakers increased K-12 tuition support by $640 million over the biennium, a 5 percent increase that brought funding to its highest level yet – even while other government spending was reduced. State tuition support for traditional public schools alone has increased 31 percent since 2016.
At the local level, funding for schools has increased substantially as well. And even with the taxpayer relief in SEA 1, schools are still receiving more local property tax revenue statewide this year than they did last year.
These investments have accompanied measurable, sustained progress in the classroom. Indiana's third grade literacy rates have improved for five consecutive years, with nearly 89 percent of students demonstrating reading proficiency on the 2026 IREAD assessment. These results represent an improvement of 7.5 percentage points since 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Indiana also ranked sixth nationally in fourth and eighth grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress. In math, proficiency on the state's ILEARN assessment increased 5.2 percentage points between 2021 and 2025, with improvements across every tested grade level.
Indiana's high school graduation rate recently reached a record high of 92 percent, while expanded apprenticeship opportunities and college credit programs are better connecting students with careers and continuing education.
Indiana has prioritized K-12 education and we're seeing results.
