Indiana’s Education Department has awarded $15 million in Competitive Science of Reading Grants to 72 school districts across the state. Six local school districts were among the recipients, including Duneland, Griffith, Hanover Community, Lake Central, Hobart, and Munster. These districts will use the funds to focus on evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading principles in grades K-3.

Evidence-based practices will be deployed by these schools to improve literacy rates among third graders. These practices include hiring full-time literacy instructional coaches for each school, supporting teachers and administrators pursuing professional development training, increasing instructional time for struggling readers, and purchasing core and supplemental curricular materials aligned with the science of reading.

The Competitive Science of Reading Grant is a part of Indiana’s $170 million investment in literacy and the science of reading. This initiative aims to improve literacy rates after 2021 third-grade state assessment showed that one in five students were unable to read. State Secretary of Education Katie Jenner emphasized the importance of learning to read by third grade as it has a critical impact on both individual students and the state’s economy. She also announced a goal for Indiana to have 95% of third graders reading proficiently by 2027.