STATEHOUSE (Aug. 26, 2025) – State Reps. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) and Tim Yocum (R-Clinton) 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.
Heaton 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.
"These latest scores are proof of what's possible when educators, parents and communities work together," said Heaton, who noted that literacy rates for all student populations also improved. "Our students are capable of great things when we give them the tools they need to thrive."
Yocum 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.
"Early literacy sets the stage for lifelong success," Yocum said. "We must continue working to ensure every Hoosier child has the opportunity to excel."
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.
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. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) represents House District 46,
which includes all of Owen County, and portions of Clay, Monroe and Vigo counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Tim Yocum (R-Clinton) represents House District 42, which includes
all of Parke and Vermillion counties, and portions of Clay, Fountain and Vigo counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
