(Indianapolis, IN) – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) on Tuesday 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.
Locally, the Batesville Community School Corporation will receive $298,642, which will serve 686 students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
Switzerland County Community Schools will use its $135,635 grant to serve 235 K-3 students.
“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. Congratulations to the recipients of this grant, and thank you for being a part of the solution.”
Successful applications incorporated one or more of the following elements in their proposals:
- Placing one full-time literacy instructional coach in each school serving kindergarten through third grade for the purposes of training and supporting teachers and administrators to align instruction to the science of reading;
- 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, which is a body of scientifically based research that integrates instructional practices with efforts focused on phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
In addition to research about reading and reading development, the science of reading includes numerous scientific studies about effective reading instruction and intervention, including what to teach and how to teach it.
Funding for the 2023-2024 Competitive Science of Reading Grant is allocated through the state’s biennial budget.
The full list of recipients can be found here.
