Rep. Bartels: Local schools recognized for literacy achievements

STATEHOUSE – Area schools were recently recognized for achieving high literacy rates by the Indiana Department of Education, according to State Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty). State Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty IDOE recognized more than 400 schools across the state achieving a 95% or higher passage rate on the 2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment at the Literacy Achievement Celebration at the Statehouse on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. “Literacy is the foundation for everything that follows in a child’s educational journey, and here in southern Indiana, we are seeing parents, teachers, and students excel,” Bartels said. “The progress we’re seeing reflects a shared commitment to making sure every child can read and succeed.” Area schools recognized include: East Crawford Elementary School South Crawford Elementary School Ferdinand Elementary School Perry Central Elementary School Nancy Hanks Elementary School Lincoln Trail Elementary School Chrisney Elementary School Luce Elementary School St. Bernard Catholic School In 2023, Bartels supported House Enrolled Act 1558 to implement science of reading standards and provide targeted support for Indiana students experiencing the greatest reading challenges. Last year, Indiana’s third-grade reading scores improved by nearly five percentage points, which is the largest single-year increase since the state launched IREAD in 2013. More than 87% of Hoosier third graders demonstrated proficiency in reading, putting Indiana’s literacy rate at this grade level back to pre-pandemic levels. Indiana NAEP 2024 Snapshot Download These IREAD results follow Indiana, placing sixth in the country for fourth and eighth-grade reading in the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) rankings . Results from the 2025 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on IDOE’s website . Click here to learn more about the state’s literacy standards.