INDIANA – The Indiana Department of Education said most grade levels saw an increase in English/Language Arts proficiency, but a decrease in math proficiency compared to last year’s numbers, according to results from the Indiana Learning Evaluation and Readiness Network exams, or ILEARN.
The report was released Wednesday during a meeting of the State Board of Education.
ILEARN is a series of Indiana-specific exams that assess student proficiency in English/Language Arts and math in grades three through eight.
According to a news release from the department, 41% of the state’s students are at or above proficiency standards in English/Language Arts, a 0.5% increase from 2021. For math, 40.7% of students are at or above proficiency standards, a 3.8% increase from 2021. The results from math were a slight decrease from 2023, according to officials, after the state saw “significant growth” in recent years.
Working off a baseline from 2021, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the department provided the following data points surrounding English/Language Arts proficiency for Indiana students taking the ILEARN exams:
- Third grade: 0.1% decrease
- Fourth grade: 2.2% increase
- Fifth grade: 0.8% increase
- Sixth grade: 1.2% increase
- Seventh grade: 0.7% increase
- Eighth grade: 1.3% decrease
The department also provided the following data for math proficiency for Indiana students taking the 2024 ILEARN exams:
- Third grade: 3.7% increase
- Fourth grade: 4.3% increase
- Fifth grade: 2.2% increase
- Sixth grade: 5.1% increase
- Seventh grade: 3.4% increase
- Eighth grade: 3.6% increase
“While many grades have seen increases in both ELA and math proficiency over the past three years, we must continue to keep our foot on the gas pedal to ensure all students have a solid academic foundation in order to maximize their future opportunities,” Katie Jenner, Indiana’s secretary of education, said in the release.
“A number of key tactics have been put in place to support educators, parents/families, and students. It is essential that our local schools and parents/families continue to work together and stay laser-focused on improving student learning in ELA, as well as math,” Jenner said. “As we urgently work to improve student learning, the new ILEARN Checkpoints, launching as a pilot in the upcoming school year, will provide more actionable data throughout the year, resulting in more strategic, increased support for our students.”
Officials reported that Black students had the highest percentage point increase in English/Language Arts with 1.2%. Black students also reported an increase in math efficiency. The department also reported that special education students, as well as those receiving free/reduced-price meals, had gains in both categories compared to 2023’s results.
The department announced plans to redesign the ILEARN assessments and is expected to roll out a pilot program this year.
The release said that new checkpoints will provide real-time student data to help support learning throughout the year instead of just at the end of the year.
Students will complete three checkpoints and a shortened summative assessment at the end of 2024. The release said more than 70% of schools will participate in the ILEARN checkpoints during the 2024-25 school year, and the full rollout will begin in the 2025-26 school year.
