August marks the return of school to our community as students begin to swap summer routines for classroom learning. At the Statehouse, we've continued to prioritize education to help ensure our students are set up for success.
At home, we're going through our own back-to-school milestones. My daughter Carlee just started preschool and my son Caleb is now in first grade. These moments and experiences at school shape our kids and our families far into the future, and it's why strengthening Indiana’s educational system is so important.
I want to highlight some of the new K-12 education laws passed this year as well as our academic achievements thanks to the hard work of Hoosier teachers, students and families.
First, it is important to know we passed Indiana's new budget, which increases K-12 funding by $640 million. That's a 5% increase and the highest funding level to date for Hoosier schools. Nearly half of the state budget supports K-12 education.
Another House Republican priority effort helped further empower educators and schools. Indiana's K-12 education regulations were reduced by nearly 10% to give local schools more flexibility and control over education decisions. House Enrolled Act 1002 repeals unnecessary bureaucracy and mandates, freeing up time so schools and teachers can focus on educating our kids.
We also worked to strengthen curriculum and facilitate after-school programming. Math skills are critical to prepare students for careers in STEM and other fields. A new law advances a comprehensive effort to improve math education in the state by addressing the needs of advanced learners, at-risk students and educators alike with an individualized, results-focused system.
I also supported a new law allowing Indiana students in good academic standing to receive up to six excused absences per school year to attend 4-H and FFA events, which help prepare our next generation for jobs in agriculture and beyond. Additionally, a new law I authored empowers parental choice by removing restrictive language from Indiana Code related to school athletic transfers. This change provides families with greater flexibility when making decisions about their child’s participation in school athletics.
These investments and policies are leading to positive results for Hoosier students. According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, the state recently jumped to sixth in the nation for fourth grade and eighth grade reading and made gains in fourth grade math. Recent data from the 2024-2025 IREAD assessment showed a historic 5% statewide increase in third grade literacy rates. It also shows that for the first time ever, literacy rates increased for all Hoosier student populations.
WalletHub recently ranked Indiana eighth in the nation for our education environment.
These advancements would not be possible without the dedication of Indiana’s teachers and school staff, who work tirelessly to educate and support our students every day. I’m thankful for their commitment to our kids and the positive impact they have on our communities. As your state representative, I will remain focused on supporting our schools, providing education opportunities for families and improving academic results for students.
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State Rep. Cory Criswell (R-Middletown) represents House District 54,
which includes portions of Hancock, Henry, Rush and Shelby counties.
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