Indiana has made literacy a top priority by requiring schools to adopt materials and practices aligned with the Science of Reading (SoR). The state has published an approved list of high-quality curricular resources to support this effort, ensuring students across Indiana receive evidence-based reading instruction that develops both foundational skills and content knowledge.

The Reading Adoption Committee, made up of teachers from across the district, began its work in Summer 2024. The committee’s goal is to adopt high-quality reading materials that align with the Science of Reading and provide consistent Tier 1 instruction in every classroom, Kindergarten through 8th grade. To support their review, the committee also relied on resources such as The Reading League and EdReports, which provide independent evaluations of instructional materials.

The process began with the state-approved list of five publishers. Teachers and principals reviewed sample materials, attended presentations, watched product demonstrations, and checked alignment with evidence-based practices. From this review, CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) emerged as the leading choice. CKLA is a more rigorous program than those previously used, offering systematic and comprehensive instruction across all five pillars of reading. A hallmark of CKLA is its intentional focus on building content knowledge in science, social studies, and the arts while teaching reading. Amplify CKLA’s systematic and spiraling approach to knowledge building also strengthens students’ reading fluency, vocabulary, and overall text understanding—key components for long-term literacy success. CKLA is firmly grounded in the Science of Reading and is included on the state’s approved curricular advisory list.

Key steps in the process:

• Summer–Fall 2024: Materials reviewed, presentations attended, and alignment assessed.
• Fall 2024: Ongoing review with school leader and principal feedback.
• Winter 2024–2025: Quotes were obtained and reviewed with the Business Department.
• March 2025: A final recommendation was presented to the School Board.
• April–June 2025: Training was provided to principals and teachers, with pilot use of materials.

By moving to a unified K–8 program, the district will ensure that every student receives consistent, high-quality reading instruction year after year. This will reduce gaps between classrooms, strengthen literacy skills at every grade level, and better prepare students for success in high school and beyond. With recent gains already evident in IREAD results, this adoption represents a crucial next step in building lasting literacy growth for all students.