Teshka statement on Indiana's third grade IREAD literacy rates

State Representative Jake Teshka (R-North Liberty) stated in response to the unprecedented increase in Indiana's third-grade literacy rates on the 2024-2025 IREAD assessment, which shows an 87.3% reading proficiency rate – a nearly 5% jump and the largest single-year increase since the assessment began in 2013.

"The increase in third-grade literacy rates is incredible news. Our third graders are demonstrating meaningful progress across all student populations. At the Statehouse, we've worked very hard to help schools and teachers prioritize reading skills, and these collective efforts are getting results. Thank you to our dedicated educators, families, and students who are putting in the time and dedication to achieve success. This is a total team effort from everyone in our state. I hope to see this trend continue and keep Indiana at the forefront of education progress."
 

Teshka has championed multiple new laws to advance literacy in our state. In 2023, he authored legislation that established science of reading standards and delivered focused support to Indiana students facing the most significant reading difficulties. In 2024, Teshka sponsored Senate Enrolled Act 1, which was a comprehensive plan to help students achieve reading proficiency by addressing the issues of curriculum, assessment, remediation, and retention.

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

WalletHub recently ranked Indiana eighth in the country for the best education environment.