INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In the wake of the latest IREAD test results, Indiana’s Secretary of State for Education is shedding light on the concerning reading proficiency of the state’s third graders.
The IREAD test scores have unveiled a sobering statistic: 1 in 5 third graders in Indiana are reading below the expected level. Although a marginal uptick in overall reading performance among Indiana’s third graders has been observed, Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana’s Education Secretary, emphasized that this increase has not been sufficient to reverse the trend.
In an interview with “Indy Politics,” Jenner dismissed the notion that the situation was inaccurately portrayed, stating, “We’ve been grappling with a decline in literacy over the past decade.”
Diverse factors may contribute to this decline, according to Jenner.
She asserted that an essential focus for districts across the state should be on elevating the training of educators in the realm of the “science of reading.” This approach entails educators ensuring that students acquire strong phonemic awareness—a skill that entails hearing, recognizing, and discerning the significance of specific letters and words. The foundation for this skill can be established as early as ages two or three when parents start reading to their children.
Jenner underscored the potency of this practice, urging parents to allocate 20 to 30 minutes each night to read to their children. This seemingly small investment, she highlighted, can wield transformative effects on a child’s foundational competencies.
In addition, Jenner recommended considering a reputable early learning center for children not undergoing homeschooling until the first grade. Moreover, while not mandated by state law, she strongly encouraged parents to enroll their children in kindergarten, affirming its role in bolstering foundational learning.
With the goal of nurturing a generation of proficient readers, Jenner’s insights underscore the imperative of early literacy interventions and strategic educational choices.
