$15 million has been awarded to 72 school districts in Indiana through the Competitive Science of Reading Grant. Six local school districts, including Duneland, Griffith, Hanover Community, Lake Central, Hobart, and Munster, are among the recipients. The grant amounts were determined based on K-3 enrollments.
The successful districts will use evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading, which is a state-endorsed phonics-based curriculum. The schools plan to deploy a full-time literacy instructional coach in each school, support teachers and administrators pursuing professional development training, increase instructional time for struggling readers, and purchase core and supplemental curricular materials aligned to science of reading.
Indiana’s $170 million investment in literacy and the science of reading is part of a larger initiative aimed at improving literacy rates, particularly after the 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 and announced a goal for Indiana to have 95% of third graders reading proficiently by 2027.
The Competitive Science of Reading Grant is just one component of this larger effort to improve literacy outcomes in Indiana. By providing additional resources and support for schools focused on K-3 instruction, this grant aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of students who need it most.