State Reps. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville) and Shane Lindauer (R-Jasper) are commending a historic increase in Indiana’s third-grade literacy rates after results from the 2024-2025 IREAD assessment showed the largest single-year improvement since the test began in 2013. Scores rose nearly five percentage points, with more than 87% of Hoosier third graders demonstrating reading proficiency, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Local schools also reported strong results: Shoals Community Schools led with a 95.5% pass rate, followed by Loogootee at 94.2%, North Daviess at 94.1%, and Barr-Reeve at 91.5%. Washington Community Schools scored 67.6%. The lawmakers pointed to recent state laws implementing evidence-based “science of reading” standards and earlier intervention programs as key factors driving the gains.
