Batesville, Switz. Co. Schools Receive Competitive Science of Reading Grant

Indiana has set an aggressive goal: that 95% of third graders are able to read by 2027.

Shuttestock photo.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has announced the recipients of the 2023-24 Competitive Science of Reading Grant.

Nearly $15 million was awarded to 72 school corporations, serving over 65,000 students in kindergarten through third grade, to support the implementation of evidence-based practices aligned with science of reading.

Locally, the following school corporations received funding:

“In Indiana, we have set an aggressive goal: that 95% of third graders are able to read by 2027,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “This is not only urgent for individual students because of the longitudinal impact of being able to read by the end of third grade, but can also have a long-term impact on Indiana’s economy and throughout our society. To help achieve this goal, we encourage every community to act with urgency to implement evidence-based practices aligned with science of reading. Congratulations to the recipients of this grant, and thank you for being a part of the solution."

Successful applications incorporated one or more of the following elements in their proposals:

• Placing one full-time literacy instructional coach in each school serving kindergarten through third grade for the purposes of training and supporting teachers and administrators to align instruction to science of reading;
• Providing support to teachers and administrators pursuing professional development in science of reading;
• Increasing instructional time for students in kindergarten through third grade identified as struggling readers; and
• Purchasing core and supplemental curricular materials aligned to science of reading.

The Competitive Science of Reading Grant is one of numerous tactical solutions made possible through Indiana’s $170 million investment – in partnership with the Lilly Endowment – toward literacy and particularly, science of reading. Science of reading is a body of scientifically-based research that integrates instructional practices with efforts focused around phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Below are additional ways that schools and educators are using Indiana’s historic literacy investment to positively impact students –

• Joining the Indiana Literacy Cadre where educators at participating schools can receive free instructional coaching in science of reading.
• Administering IREAD-3 at Grade 2 to gain access to an early On Track indicator to determine if students will master foundational reading skills by the end of grade three.
• Completing IDOE’s science of reading modules, developed in partnership with Marian University, through the Indiana Learning Lab. Eligible teachers can also earn a $1,200 stipend by completing the modules.
• Receiving targeted support through a Literacy Support Plan, specifically designed for Indiana schools falling below 70% IREAD-3 passage.
• Earning incentives for improving IREAD-3 scores through IDOE’s Literacy Achievement Grants (awards to be announced in December).
• COMING SOON: Current educators will be able to pursue the science of reading-focused literacy endorsement at no cost!

To learn more about additional literacy supports available to Indiana schools, click here.