Rep. Baird praises IREAD scores increasing for fifth consecutive year
STATEHOUSE (Aug. 19, 2026) – State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) is celebrating Hoosier students' scores on the 2026 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment rising for the fifth consecutive year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Baird 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.
"This is the kind of progress that every Hoosier can be proud of," Baird said. "Our students have overcome significant obstacles to achieve these scores, and they show how much can be accomplished when families, educators and communities work together."
Baird also noted that literacy rates for every student population are now higher than before the pandemic.
Local school corporation pass rates for the most recent IREAD exams include:
- Cloverdale Community Schools, 88%;
- Greencastle Community School Corp., 91%;
- North Putnam Community Schools, 89%; and
- South Putnam Community Schools, 89%.
Baird supported a law in 2023 establishing science of reading standards and delivering focused support to Indiana students facing the most significant reading difficulties. Additional legislation supported by Baird 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. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) represents House District 44,
which includes all of Putnam County and a portion of Montgomery County.
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