Reading skills in Indiana students have been declining for many years with a sharp drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the state heard wonderful news last year; the results of the 2024-25 third grade IREAD scores showed their largest ever increase — up 5% to an overall pass rate of 87%. Reading scores returned to pre-pandemic levels (equal to 2018-19), a welcome improvement after legal changes focused educators on the science of reading to support young readers. IREAD scores improved for the 2025-26 year by a smaller amount, with under 89% of third graders passing the exam.
While we should celebrate last year’s gains, Indiana still has work to do. If we are going to meet the state goal of having 95% of third graders pass IREAD by 2027, parents and teachers will need to inspire more reading. Especially as reading skills of students, and adults, have declined for years. Take IREAD, for instance: the first year IREAD was administered, 92% of Indiana third graders passed the test, but by 2018-19, that number had dropped to 87%. Similarly for adults in the US: literacy rates fell between 2017-2023. About 4% fewer adults today are proficient readers and about 9% more adults struggle with reading or are functionally illiterate. Results for Indiana are in line with the nation.
Some decline can be improved if we support high-quality education, especially focusing on children’s passion for reading and their skills. Improvements in test scores are promising, but evidence of a deep impact will be more kids asking to read to adults or reading with flashlights under covers after lights out.
Highlighting the challenge, a recent study found that between 2003 to 2023, daily reading-for-pleasure rates declined 40% in the US.
We might wonder, in an age where our phones seem to be able to read anything to us, does reading still matter? The long and short of it is — yes, it does! Literacy rates are often higher for children who grow up in families with higher income, and low literacy can be an obstacle for adults looking to improve in their careers. In fact, research on a literacy program for adults in the 1990s found that improving reading ability facilitated a career change, helping people find new career opportunities. Beyond that, a variety of research studies have indicated that reading has health benefits ranging from improvements in sleep and stress reduction, to helping us stay mentally fit as we age. It may even help us to be better and more engaged neighbors and citizens.
Given the importance of reading, for individuals and communities, what can we do to change these trends? In some ways, we’ve already started. Our state responded to students’ reading struggles by prioritizing reading and encouraging the use of proven techniques to help children learn to read. Supporting our schools and teachers helps maintain and continue this trend. For example, schools that participated in the Indiana Literacy Cadre, a state program that provides professional teacher development, saw larger IREAD gains than other schools. This teacher training is critical to develop student reading skills. And, it’s more challenging during times when funding for schools is being cut.
Beyond prioritizing reading in schools, we can build reading habits at home., With fewer people reading for pleasure today we might easily blame our phones, television, or the internet for stealing our attention (and certainly they are not blameless!), but the real issue is how to make changes in our own lives. Spend some time each day reading something for pleasure (something you enjoy). It doesn’t cost anything. Just visit our public library (or one of the little free libraries around town or try trading books with friends) to find something that strikes your interest. Another wonderful resource is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program to send free, high-quality books to children from birth to the age of five. All of Indiana, including our very own Montgomery County, participates in the program, and parents can enroll their children at the Imagination Library website: https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/INMONTGOMERY/).
If you have young readers in your home, helping them find books that fit their interests and spending some time reading together can go a long way to help develop a love of reading. When children see adults read it signals that reading is valued. It may be especially critical for boys, who tend to lag behind girls in reading, to see men in their lives enjoying a book.
Just like exercise, reading is an important part of living a healthy life and being able to achieve our goals. And just like exercise, it is a lot easier to follow through with when you pick the right activity (or book!).
The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan, multi-issue organization encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase public understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. All men and women are invited to join. For information, visit the website www.lwvmontcoin.org or the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, IN Facebook page.
