In Indiana, seventy-two school districts have been awarded the Competitive Science of Reading Grant, with six local school districts among the recipients. These districts will share a total of $15 million, focusing on the science of reading principles in grades K-3. The grant amounts were based on K-3 enrollments, and the winning districts are Duneland, Griffith, Hanover Community, Lake Central, Hobart, and Munster.

The schools plan to use evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading, which is a state-endorsed phonics-based curriculum. Successful applicants will be using practices such as deploying a full-time literacy instructional coach in each school, supporting teachers and administrators pursuing professional development training, increasing instructional time for struggling readers, and purchasing core and supplemental curricular materials aligned to science of reading.

Indiana’s investment in literacy and the science of reading is part of a larger initiative aimed at improving literacy rates across the state. This initiative was sparked by the 2021 third-grade state assessment that showed one in five students were unable to read proficiently. State Secretary of Education Katie Jenner emphasized the critical importance of learning to read by third grade for both individual students and the state’s economy. Jenner also announced a goal for Indiana to have 95% of third graders reading proficiently by 2027.