The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the recipients of the 2023-2024 Competitive Science of Reading Grant. Nearly $15 million was awarded to 72 school corporations, serving over 65,000 students in kindergarten through third grade, to support the implementation of evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading.

“In Indiana, we have set an aggressive goal: that 95% of third graders are able to read by 2027,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “This is not only urgent for individual students because of the longitudinal impact of being able to read by the end of third grade but can also have a long-term impact on Indiana’s economy and throughout our society. To help achieve this goal, we encourage every community to act with urgency to implement evidence-based practices aligned with the science of reading.”

Successful applications had to incorporate one or more required elements such as one full-time literacy instructional coach in each school serving kindergarten through third grade; providing support to teachers and administrators pursuing professional development in the science of reading; increasing instructional time for students in kindergarten through third grade identified as struggling readers; and purchasing core and supplemental curricular materials aligned to the science of reading.

The Competitive Science of Reading Grant is one of the numerous tactical solutions made possible through Indiana’s $170 million investment – in partnership with the Lilly Endowment – toward literacy and particularly, the science of reading.

School corporations in and around Marshall County receiving grants include the John Glenn School Corporation with 598 kindergartens through 3rd grade students that will be served with the $150,000 grant. In the Knox Community School Corp., there are 516 K-3 students who will receive the benefit of a $31,473 grant. 164 Oregon-Davis School Corp. k-3 students will have the chance to improve their reading skills with a $150,000 grant.  Rochester Community School Corp. has 483 students in grades kindergarten through third grade who will have the opportunity to gain reading strength with a $150,000 grant. The Competitive Science of Reading Grant will assist 484 elementary students in the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. with the $147,900 grant and in the Union-North United School Corporation $126,909 of grant fund will help 393 K through 3 students with their reading skills.     

Funding for the 2023-2024 Competitive Science of Reading Grant is allocated through the state’s biennial budget.