By GARRETT BERGQUIST
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
More than 600 elementary schools could gain coaches to train teachers in new literacy methods under a program announced Thursday morning.
Holcomb
Indiana’s third grade reading proficiency scores have slid for a decade, dropping from a peak of 91.4 percent during the 2012-2013 school year to 81.6 percent last year. In a speech at Eastside Elementary School in Anderson, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the state would put $111 million toward Science of Reading programs.
The Lilly Endowment will foot most of the bill, providing a $60 million grant to the Indiana Department of Education to pay for the coaches and training courses for teachers. Another $25 million will help cover the cost of incorporating Science of Reading training into undergraduate teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities. The remaining $26 million will come out of the state’s wallet.
Holcomb said the money would cover literacy instructional coaches at more than 600 elementary schools through the year 2027. He said the state will continue to track its reading proficiency scores during that time.
“We’ll be very transparent about that and continue to fund what works,” Holcomb said. “This is a program that we know works. We’ve seen in other areas it works. And we’ve got some ground to make up and not a lot of time to get there.”
About 30 states currently require all teachers to be trained in Science of Reading concepts. Asked whether he would ask lawmakers to add Indiana to that list, Holcomb said he would contemplate it.
State Representative Tony Cook (R-Cicero) was pleased with the financial investment.
Cook
“I am sure the school corporations are excited, and I am especially pleased with this new investment, which will help with the goal to have 95 percent of Hoosier students achieve a passing score on the IREAD-3 by 2027,” Cook said. “I think the guidelines established for the grant, which expect the use of proven strategies aligned with the Science of Reading, are definitely needed.
“The funding will support instructional coaches in schools, offer stipends to teachers to participate in workshops enhancing their teaching of reading based on successful science, and provide targeted support for students who need help improving their reading skills.
“I’m thankful to Gov. Holcomb, the Indiana Department of Education and the Lilly Endowment for providing these needed resources for launching an all-out attack on illiteracy.”