State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) is celebrating Hoosier students’ scores on the 2026 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment rising for the fifth consecutive year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Lehman 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. Literacy rates for every student population are also now higher than before the pandemic.
“These results continue a notable streak of success and attest to the dedication of our teachers, parents and students in focusing on the fundamentals of literacy,” Lehman said. “This is an achievement worth celebrating, with more young Hoosiers building the academic foundation that will carry them throughout their education and beyond.”
Local school corporation pass rates for the most recent IREAD exams include 88% for Adams Central Community Schools, 92% for North Adams Community Schools and 97% for South Adams Schools.
A law the General Assembly 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.
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.
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.
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