Speaker Huston commends continued reading gains for Hoosier students

Submitted by Office of Speaker Todd Huston

Editor’s note: Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) issued the following statement in response to the fifth consecutive year of third-grade literacy gains on the 2025-2026 IREAD assessment, which shows nearly 89 percent of students now reading by the end of third grade.

“Indiana students continue to make strong academic gains, including five straight years of reading improvement,” Huston said. “These encouraging results show that our focus on high academic standards, targeted support and increased opportunities for students is working. Thank you to our passionate and dedicated educators and families who work every day to help Hoosier students succeed.”

In 2023, the General Assembly passed legislation that established science of reading standards and delivered focused support to Indiana students facing the most significant reading difficulties. Additional legislation bolstered the Department of Education’s (DOE) literacy cadre program to ensure schools with fewer than 70 percent of students passing IREAD receive additional resources and support.

Since 2021, Indiana’s IREAD scores have increased every year with nearly 89 percent of students now reading by the end of third grade. Prior to 2021, literacy rates declined every year except one.

In the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) rankings from 2024, Indiana jumped to sixth in the nation for both fourth and eighth grade reading.

In the last state budget, Indiana increased K-12 tuition support by $640 million, a 5 percent increase over the biennium, to its highest level yet. Nearly half of the state budget goes toward K-12 education (47 percent).

Indiana also expanded its school choice scholarship program in the last state budget, empowering all Hoosier families to choose the school environment that is best for their student.

House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents House District 37, which includes a portion of Hamilton County.