STATEHOUSE (Sept. 2, 2025) – Montgomery County lawmakers are commending a historic increase in third grade literacy rates for Hoosier students following results from the 2024-2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment.
State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) said third grade reading scores improved by nearly five percentage points, which is the largest single-year increase since Indiana launched IREAD in 2013. More than 87% of Hoosier third graders demonstrated proficiency in reading, putting Indiana's literacy rate at this grade level back to pre-pandemic levels.
The lawmakers thanked Indiana's education leaders, schools, teachers and families for their dedication to help Indiana students achieve these results.
"The improvement in Hoosier students' reading scores is simply astonishing when you consider how far they had fallen after the disruptions caused by the pandemic," Baird said. "So many people are responsible for these results, including teachers, students and their families, and state leaders. It's an opportunity to celebrate and an affirmation that the steps taken are working."
State Rep. Matt Commons (R-Williamsport) noted that literacy rates for all student populations also improved.
"I am proud of the students and teachers who have worked so hard to improve reading skills," Commons said. "It's such an important skill and by prioritizing literacy rates, we are setting students up for success in and out of the classroom.”
State Rep. Mark Genda (R-Frankfort) said these IREAD results follow Indiana placing sixth in the country for fourth and eighth grade reading in the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) rankings.
"Reading scores are steadily improving thanks to the efforts of teachers and students," Genda said. "Indiana is dedicated to improving our literacy rates and will continue discussing new ways to keep kids engaged in reading."
State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) said to improve Indiana's literacy rates, the General Assembly passed a law in 2023 implementing science of reading standards, which is evidence-based instruction that increases students' reading competency through phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, fluency, oral language skills and comprehension. A law passed in 2024 added screenings for students at risk of falling behind on reading proficiency and providing earlier intervention.
"Too many Hoosier students were falling behind on this fundamental part of learning," Thompson said. "It's gratifying to see what can be accomplished when people work together on a common goal, and I hope we can continue this progress in other areas of our academic curriculum."
Results from the 2025 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on the Indiana Department of Education's website. Click here to learn more about the state's literacy standards.
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State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) represents House District 44,
which includes all of Putnam County and a portion of Montgomery County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Mark Genda (R-Frankfort) represents House District 41,
which includes portions of Boone, Clinton, Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Matt Commons (R-Williamsport) represents House District 13,
which includes all of Benton and Warren counties, and portions of
Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe and White counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) represents House District 28,
which includes portions of Boone, Hendricks and Montgomery counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
