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Much has been said about the pandemic’s impact on literacy rates, which declined in every state. However, lower reading proficiency levels did not start with the pandemic. Instead, they began with a declining focus nationwide on evidence-based approaches for teaching young children how to read.
This has changed dramatically in Indiana, where state leaders have focused with laser-like intensity on improving literacy rates for young students. Reading by third grade is considered a critical milestone because it strongly predicts future academic success and lifelong outcomes.
Since 2022, under Secretary of Education Katie Jenner’s leadership—and backed by state and federal funding along with more than $80 million in grant funding through the Lilly Endowment’s Science of Reading initiative—Indiana has prioritized implementing evidence-based approaches to ensuring young people can read proficiently by the time they enter fourth grade.
We have begun to see the impact of this strategic, intensive effort on early literacy. In August, the state announced reading proficiency for Indiana third graders improved from 82.5% in 2024 to 87.3% in 2025, the largest increase since the state introduced IREAD in 2013. (IREAD is Indiana’s statewide assessment for third grade reading.) This remarkable improvement is a testament to the hard work of state leaders, colleges of education helping Indiana implement Science of Reading best practices, elementary school teachers, and of course, students and their families. It’s also inspiring to celebrate this exciting progress at the start of a new school year, with a full year of learning ahead for Hoosier students.
Even with these major improvements, we should commit to keeping our foot on the gas to ensure Indiana’s third grade reading scores continue to climb. That’s one of the reasons I’m excited to co-chair the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee’s education committee, alongside Fred Yeakey, chief partnership officer at Providence Cristo Rey High School, and Latha Ramchand, chancellor of Indiana University Indianapolis. One of our committee’s priorities is supporting Read to the Final Four, the NCAA’s annual literacy challenge aimed at strengthening literacy skills and fostering a love of reading. For the 2026 event, we’re focused squarely on third grade students, with activities that launched at the start of this academic year.
How can you help? To date, 332 Indiana schools are registered to participate in Read to the Final Four. Our goal is 350 schools, and interested schools can still register through Oct. 1. Participating schools gain access to a range of grants, prizes and Final Four fan event opportunities, including a special event on Sept. 19. That day, all participating third grade classes will read for 26 minutes (because we’re hosting the 2026 Men’s Final Four).
Readers can also donate to Team Up for Literacy through the Indiana Sports Corp. to support existing statewide literacy initiatives in four categories: literacy tutoring for students needing extra support with reading skills, books for classrooms, family literacy nights and home libraries for families.
The bottom line: Reading really matters. The NCAA’s Read to the Final Four is helping boost Indiana third grade reading levels as we prepare for the 2026 Men’s Final Four. Everyone can play a role in this vital community effort, and I invite you to join in the fun. To get involved with Read to the Final Four or learn how to support Indiana Sports Corp.’s Team Up for Literacy, contact [email protected].•
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Fiddian-Green is president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, whose mission is to advance the vitality of Indianapolis and the well-being of its people. Send comments to [email protected].
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