Indiana third-graders' IREAD scores showed the largest single-year increase since the literacy test began in 2013, state officials announced Wednesday.
The state Department of Education announced the results during a State Board of Education meeting in Indianapolis.
More than 67,000 third-graders, or 82.5 percent, achieved proficient reading, an improvement of 0.6 percentage points from last year's results. About 65,000 students achieved proficient reading last year.
The state's third-grader literacy rate had been declining for a decade even before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the impact has become even more severe since the 2020-21 school year.
Last year's results raised concern from Education Secretary Katy Jenner, who said one in five pupils could not read or write by the end of year three.
Lawmakers quickly took action, passing bills requiring kindergarten through sixth grade teachers and special education teachers to receive training in reading science in order to renew their state licenses and making reading science curriculum mandatory in all schools.
Lawmakers also made it mandatory for students who fail the IREAD after three attempts to repeat the third grade next year.
In Lake County, eight of 16 districts performed above the state average, with Munster leading the way with a 93.8 percent pass rate.
In Porter County, six of seven school districts performed above the state average, with Porter County's third-grader pass rate at 94.6 percent.
Two charter schools, East Chicago Urban Enterprise (85.4%) and Discovery Charter (86.1%), performed above the state average.
In Lake County, Wadsworth in Griffith and MacArthur in Crown Point had a 100% pass rate for third graders. In Gary Parish, five schools recorded a 100% pass rate: St. Michael, St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary (Griffith), St. Mary (Crown Point) and St. Patrick.
Six Lake County school districts improved their scores from last year: In Porter County, only Duneland saw an increase from last year.
Lake Ridge saw the largest increase in pass rate, from 52.8% last year to 62.7% this year.
Officials said performance for Black students, students receiving special education services and students receiving free or reduced-price meals increased for the third consecutive year.
The number of Black students increased by 3.2% from 2023 to 2024. The number of special education students increased by 2.2% and students receiving reduced meals increased by 1.8%.
This year, state law requires second-graders to take the IREAD test so teachers can focus on students' weak areas. Last year, more than 1,000 elementary schools voluntarily administered the test to second-graders, and 59% of students passed or were on track to pass by the end of third grade, according to the release.
The state also began partnering with the University of Indianapolis' Center for Excellence in Learning Leadership and Marian University's Center for Vibrant Schools.
The partnership provided elementary school teachers with guidance and support aligned with The Science of Reading, an evidence-based curriculum that teaches reading by emphasizing phonics, vocabulary and comprehension.
Participating schools saw a 2.5 percentage point improvement in pass rates, officials said.
In 2022, the state partnered with the Lilly Endowment to invest $111 million in early literacy development, expanding to $170 million in 2023.
Carol Carlson is a Post-Tribune freelance reporter.
2024 3rd Grade IREAD District Pass Rate*
State average: 82.5%
Lake County
Hannover Central 90.5%
River Forest 79.7%
Merrillville 79.5%
Lake Central 91.8%
Tri Creek 92.2%
Lake Ridge 62.7%
Crown Point 92.4%
East Chicago 56.2%
Lake Station 80.3%
Gary 49.2%
Griffith 88.6%
Hammond 63.1%
Highland 85.2%
Hobart 82%
Munster 93.8%
Whiting 86.4%
Porter County
Boone Township 89.9%
Duneland 93.1%
East Porter 87.8%
Porter Township 94.6%
Union Township 94.3%
Portage Township 78.1%
Valparaiso 94.4%
Charter Schools
Dunes Charter School 48.6%
Thea Bowman 89.1%
Gary Lighthouse 47.1%
21st century 60.8%
East Chicago Urban Enterprise 79.1%
East Chicago Lighthouse 43.4%
Aspire 76.7%
Discovery Charter 86.3%
Steel City Charter 65%
HIAT (Higher Education Institutions) 47.4%
Private
Gary Parish 95.4%
*Indiana Department of Education