Indiana's IREAD Results Show Significant Improvement in Third-Grade Literacy
The Indiana Department of Education recently released the 2025 IREAD testing results, which highlight a notable increase in reading proficiency among third-graders across the state. The IREAD assessment is designed to evaluate foundational reading skills for students in the third grade. According to the latest data, approximately 87.3% of Indiana’s third-graders demonstrated proficiency in these essential reading skills.
This represents a significant improvement compared to the previous school year, where about 82.5% of third-graders met the proficiency standards. The increase marks a nearly five percentage point rise from the 2023-24 school year to the 2024-25 school year. This upward trend has been welcomed by education leaders and officials who see it as a positive sign for the future of literacy in the state.
Governor Mike Braun emphasized the importance of reading as a foundation for success, stating that “helping every Hoosier to live out their American dream starts with the ability to read.” He noted that the literacy rate in Indiana has increased by almost five percentage points from 2024 to 2025, surpassing the previous year’s record. He also highlighted that the progress being made in Indiana is setting a national example in education.
Despite this recent improvement, overall reading proficiency among third-graders is still below the levels seen when the IREAD program was first implemented in the 2012-13 academic year. At that time, 91.4% of third-graders were proficient in reading. The numbers dipped over the following years, reaching an all-time low in 2020-21 when only 81.2% of third-graders were proficient. However, since then, there has been a steady upward trend, indicating that efforts to improve literacy are beginning to bear fruit.
Improvements Across Demographics
The increase in reading proficiency was not limited to a single demographic group. Data shows that more students from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds demonstrated proficiency in reading between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. This includes Asian, Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander, multi-racial, and White students.
Additionally, the performance of students on free or reduced-cost lunch programs improved significantly. In 2024-25, about 82.6% of these students showed proficiency in reading, compared to 76% in the previous school year. This suggests that targeted interventions and support programs may be making a difference in closing the achievement gap.
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has set a goal of achieving a 95% reading proficiency rate for third-graders by 2027. In the 2024-25 school year, 456 schools met this benchmark, compared to only 179 schools in 2023-24. These 456 schools represent slightly more than one-third of all elementary schools in the state, showing that progress is being made across multiple districts.
Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, praised the collaborative efforts of educators, parents, and communities in driving this improvement. She noted that the increase in literacy rates is a result of hard work and dedication, and that the data clearly shows that current strategies are working.
Expanding Testing and Support for Young Readers
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the IREAD testing will expand to include second-graders. While the testing will initially be optional, schools will be required to administer the test to second-graders starting in 2024-25. This expansion aims to identify students who may need additional support earlier in their education, giving them more opportunities to pass the IREAD before entering fourth grade.
In 2024-25, 68% of second-graders who took the IREAD either passed the test or were on track to pass it before moving to third grade. Furthermore, 96% of students who were deemed “on track” to pass the test as second-graders in 2023-24 actually passed it as third-graders in 2024-25. Approximately 65% of students who were identified as “at risk” of failing the test as second-graders also passed it as third-graders.
This success has been attributed in part to the Indiana Literacy Cadre, a partnership between the State of Indiana, the University of Indianapolis’ Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL), and Marian University’s Center for Vibrant Schools. The cadre provides early elementary teachers with instructional coaching and support aligned with the science of reading, which emphasizes phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Schools that participated in the Indiana Literacy Cadre saw an average seven-percentage-point increase in the number of third-graders passing the IREAD, compared to a 3.6-percentage-point increase in schools that did not participate. This highlights the effectiveness of targeted professional development and support for educators.
Looking Ahead
As the focus on reading proficiency continues to grow, the emphasis on IREAD testing is expected to intensify in the 2025-26 school year. Starting this year, third-graders who do not pass the IREAD will be held back, reinforcing the importance of meeting literacy benchmarks at an early age.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett also shared his perspective on the results, noting that the Circle City Readers program has contributed to the success of many students in the city. Over 75% of participating third-graders passed the IREAD this year, leading to the program’s inclusion in the proposed 2026 operational budget.
Governor Braun expressed pride in the progress made, calling the increase in literacy rates a historic achievement. He emphasized that Indiana is building on this progress through bold investments in education, ensuring that students have the tools they need to succeed.