IREAD-3 Results: Nearly One in Five Hoosier Third Graders Not Yet Reading Proficiently

The Batesville School Corporation recorded the best IREAD-3 pass rate in the area.

Shutterstock photo.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) today released results from the 2021-22 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) assessment.

Statewide, results show that more than 65,000 of Indiana’s third grade students, or 81.6 percent, demonstrated proficient reading skills on the assessment.

Overall, results improved 0.4 percent, but remain 5.7 percent points below pre-pandemic proficiency rates from the 2018-19 school year.

For the first time, schools were also provided an opportunity to have their second grade students participate in the IREAD-3.  Of the more than 20,000 second grade students who participated, 62 percent either passed the assessment or are on track to pass next year.

Scores from local school corporations is listed in the table below.

*Data via the Indiana Department of Education

“We know that students first learn to read, and then they read to learn,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Data shows a direct link between reading by the end of third grade and future learning. As many students continue to recover from the academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, specific student populations -- including our low income, Black, Hispanic, special education and English learner students -- had persistent learning gaps even prior to the pandemic. That’s why it’s so important that educators, families and communities continue to come together to lead innovative, intentional efforts to make sure all students are able to read.” 

Some of the innovative initiatives to support schools, educators and students, include:

• A more than $150 million state-funded grant program to help schools and community partners support accelerated learning for students through summer and before-, after- school programming;
• The Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed performance dashboard (beginning fall 2022);
• Parent microgrants for high-impact tutoring (beginning fall 2022);
• A partnership with Schoolhouse.world to remove financial barriers to tutoring opportunities;
• The Indiana Learning Lab to provide educators and families with expanded online resources, including in literacy, STEM, digital, special education and English learner instruction; and
• A first-of-its-kind partnership with Get Your Teach On, providing educators with interactive professional development and support.

For more information and full results from the IREAD-3 assessment, visit DOE: Data Center & Reports (in.gov).