Reps. Pressel, Teshka praise IREAD scores increasing for fifth consecutive year
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 9, 2026) – State Reps. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) and Jake Teshka (R-North Liberty) are celebrating Hoosier students' scores on the 2026 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment rising for the fifth consecutive year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Pressel said more than 88% of Hoosier third graders passed IREAD, a nearly 1.5 percentage point increase from last year. It's the second-largest single-year increase since the test was implemented.
"Continued gains in early literacy are something we can all be proud of, and I'm grateful to our students, teachers and families for making these foundational skills a priority," Pressel said. "Their hard work and dedication are paying off, with more Hoosier students building the reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond."
Teshka, a member of the House Education Committee, noted that literacy rates for every student population are now higher than before the pandemic.
"It's so encouraging to see these IREAD scores increase once again as more Hoosier students are not just getting back on track, but excelling," Teshka said. "Deploying data-driven strategies and prioritizing foundational skills in our classrooms is leading to positive results. I'm grateful to our educators and parents for supporting Hoosier students."
Local school corporation pass rates for the most recent IREAD exams include:
- John Glenn School Corp., 94%;
- La Porte Community School Corp., 90%;
- Michigan City Area Schools, 83%;
- New Durham Township Metropolitan School District, 90%;
- New Prairie United School Corp., 95%;
- South Central Community School Corp., 96%; and
- Tri-Township Consolidated School Corp., 91%.
Teshka authored the law in 2023 establishing science of reading standards and delivering focused support to Indiana students facing the most significant reading difficulties. Additional legislation bolstered the Indiana Department of Education’s literacy cadre program to ensure schools with fewer than 70% of students passing IREAD receive additional resources and support.
In the current state budget, Indiana increased K-12 tuition support by $640 million, a 5% increase over the biennium, to its highest level yet. Nearly half of our state budget goes toward K-12 education (47%). Indiana also expanded its school choice scholarship program, empowering all Hoosier families to choose the school environment that is best for their students.
Results from the 2026 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on IDOE's website. Click here to learn more about the state's literacy standards.
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State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) represents District 20,
which includes portions of LaPorte and Starke counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Jake Teshka (R-North Liberty) represents House District 7,
which includes portions of LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
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