IN DOE News

Indiana Leads 50-State High School Study on Student Preparation

The Indiana Department of Education announced that a nationwide study by the XQ Institute ranks Indiana first among all 50 states in preparing students for life after graduation. The study identifies 10 policy actions for modernizing high school, with Indiana implementing six of these policies and having another underway. Indiana's new diploma requirements include readiness seals recognizing career, college, and military pathways, and students earning the Enrollment Honors Plus Seal receive automatic acceptance to all seven of Indiana's public colleges and universities.

Indiana Achieves Unprecedented Growth in Third Grade Literacy Rates

The Indiana Department of Education released results from the 2024-2025 IREAD assessment showing 73,500 third grade students (87.3%) demonstrated proficient reading skills, a nearly five percentage point increase over the prior year. This represents the largest single-year increase since IREAD launched in 2013, with literacy rates now back to pre-pandemic levels. The state has invested up to $170 million in partnership with Lilly Endowment to support early literacy development.

Indiana Unanimously Approves Updated K-12 School Grades

The Indiana State Board of Education unanimously approved a final K-12 accountability rule establishing a new A-F school grading system focused on student preparedness for college, career, or military service. The model, developed over eight months with over 800 public comments, aligns with Indiana's Profile of a Graduate framework. The rule awaits review by the Office of the Attorney General and signature by Governor Mike Braun to become law.

Free Summer Learning Labs Continue for Indiana Students

The Indiana Department of Education announced the continuation of Summer Learning Labs (SLL) for 2026, a free five-week summer enrichment program providing reading and math instruction to students in grades 1-9. Nearly 12,000 students across Indiana will receive support at no cost through four regional programs: BGC SLL (5,800 students), Indy SLL (5,500 students), Southeast SLL (200 students), and Wabash SLL (50 students). The program builds on 2025 data showing double-digit percentage point proficiency gains in reading and math after just five weeks of instruction.