Investing in education & delivering results for students

By TODD HUSTON
House Speaker

Indiana students are making significant academic gains. Reading scores are reaching new highs, math proficiency has improved, high school graduation rates are higher than ever before and we’re better aligning our education system with real-world careers.

These gains have come alongside robust and increased investment in Indiana’s students, teachers, and schools.

One of the clearest examples of Indiana’s progress is in early literacy.

After Indiana refocused on the science of reading, strengthened early interventions, and aligned curriculum with proven strategies, third-grade IREAD scores increased for the fifth consecutive year in 2026. Nearly 89 percent of third graders are demonstrating reading proficiency, and literacy rates have climbed 7.5 percentage points since 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

On the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, Indiana ranked sixth in the nation in both fourth- and eighth-grade reading. A separate national analysis released this year ranked Indiana sixth among states for reading recovery.

Hoosier students are making progress in math as well. Student math proficiency on the state’s ILEARN assessment increased 5.2 percentage points from 2021 to 2025, with gains across every tested grade level.

We’re also better connecting high school with what comes next – whether that’s college, a career, the military, an apprenticeship, or additional training.

Indiana’s redesigned high school diploma is giving students more opportunities to gain work experience, earn credentials and make career connections before graduation. Indiana ranks fourth nationally in total active registered apprentices.

We’re also helping college-bound students better prepare while saving families money on college costs. Indiana leads the nation in the percentage of high school students completing at least one college course, with the average student earning 15 college credits before ever stepping foot on campus.

Expanded options and increased relevancy are helping students succeed. Indiana’s high school graduation rate recently reached a record high of nearly 92 percent – higher than the national average.

Now, let’s talk about funding.

Since 2014, Indiana has increased education funding by 46 percent – a $3 billion increase. In the most recent state budget, Indiana increased K-12 tuition support by $640 million, a 5 percent increase over the biennium, to its highest level yet. State tuition support for public schools alone has increased 30 percent over the last decade.

At the local level, funding has increased as well. And to be clear, our public schools are receiving more – not less – in property tax funding this year than they did last year.

Indiana has also made raising teacher pay a priority. Through increased state investment and requirements that more education dollars reach the classroom, the average teacher salary has grown by nearly 16 percent since the 2020-2021 school year and now exceeds $60,000 a year.

At the same time, we’ve expanded options for Indiana’s families, putting parents in the driver’s seat and empowering more families to choose the education environment that’s best for their student.

Indiana has refocused on the fundamentals, better connected the classroom to real-world success, provided ongoing investment and expanded educational opportunities for families.

There’s more work ahead, but Indiana is moving in the right direction and delivering real results for Hoosier students.

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