Boone County lawmakers are celebrating Hoosier students’ scores on the 2026 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment rising for the fifth consecutive year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
State Rep. Becky Cash (R-Zionsville), a member of the House Education Committee, said more than 88% of Hoosier third graders passed IREAD, a nearly 1.5 percentage point increase from last year. It’s the second-largest single-year increase since the test was implemented.
“These results are a strong indication that Indiana’s focus on early literacy is making a meaningful difference in students’ lives,” Cash said. “We’re seeing more young Hoosiers build the reading skills they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”
Literacy rates for every student population are now higher than before the pandemic.
Local school corporation pass rates for the most recent IREAD exams include:
- Lebanon Community School Corp., 89%;
- Sheridan Community Schools, 94%;
- Traders Point Christian Schools, 100%;
- Western Boone Co. Community Schools, 94%;
- Zionsville Community Schools, 96%.
State Rep. Hunter Smith (R-Zionsville), a member of the House Education Committee, said a law passed in 2023 established science of reading standards and delivered focused support to Indiana students facing the most significant reading difficulties. Additional legislation bolstered the Indiana Department of Education’s literacy cadre program to ensure schools with fewer than 70% of students passing IREAD receive additional resources and support.
“Every percentage point represents more students developing the confidence and skills that come from being a strong reader,” Smith said. “These gains are worth celebrating, but our work doesn’t stop here.”
State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) said in the current state budget, Indiana increased K-12 tuition support by $640 million, a 5% increase over the biennium, to its highest level yet. Nearly half of our state budget goes toward K-12 education (47%). Indiana also expanded its school choice scholarship program, empowering all Hoosier families to choose the school environment that is best for their students.
“These IREAD scores are further proof that recent laws, state funding and the efforts of our teachers, administrators, parents and students are leading to a remarkable rebound in literacy and positioning Indiana as a leading state in education policy,” Thompson said. “It shows that when we work together, we can make tremendous progress that helps Hoosiers thrive.”
Results from the 2026 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on IDOE’s website. Click here to learn more about the state’s literacy standards.