Indiana
How did Indiana students do on NAEP reading and math tests?
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Indiana students fared slightly better on “the nation’s report card” in 2024 compared to 2022 as the state continues to slowly recover from the effects of the pandemic.
But across the state and nation, scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress — or NAEP — remain below 2019 levels, raising alarm bells about students’ reading and math skills after the pandemic. Nationally, there is also a growing gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students on NAEP.
Scores released Wednesday show Indiana students’ performance in both math and reading ticked up by between 1 and 3 percentage points in 2024.
In reading, around 34% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders were proficient or better in reading in 2024, up from 33% and 31%, respectively, in 2022.
In math, around 43% of fourth graders and 31% of eighth graders scored proficient or better in 2024, compared with 40% and 30%, respectively, in 2022.
Indiana’s performance across both subjects is in line with most other states, which saw no statistically significant score improvements compared to 2022. Nationally, reading scores have continued to drop in a trend that began before the pandemic in 2019. In math, some states made notable improvements, but Indiana was not among them.
Still, Indiana’s average scores remain above national averages. And while national averages have declined in reading, Indiana students’ scores rose this year.
Another difference between Indiana and national averages concerns the highest- and lowest-performing students. Indiana fourth graders in the bottom quartile of scores improved their performance over 2022. But nationally, fourth graders in the bottom quartile of reading scores declined the most from 2022.
However, the gap in eighth grade reading scores between Indiana’s lowest- and highest-performing students grew from 2022 to 2024.
Across demographic groups, one of the state’s most significant jumps in scores was for Black fourth grade students, whose reading scores rose from 194 in 2022 to 201 in 2024 — one point higher than their 2019 scores. Hispanic fourth grade students have also matched 2019 scores in reading for the demographic.
No other student group in Indiana matched its 2019 performance in either subject in 2024.
Nationwide, it was rare for any state to exceed its 2019 NAEP scores in either subject — just Alabama scored higher in fourth grade math, and only Louisiana scored higher in fourth grade reading.
“NAEP has reported declines in reading achievement consistently since 2019, and the continued declines since the pandemic suggest we’re facing complex challenges that cannot be fully explained by the impact of COVID-19,” said National Center for Education Statistics Associate Commissioner Daniel McGrath in a press release.
NAEP scores, learning affected by student absenteeism
NAEP scores don’t indicate the efficacy of any single policy or practice. But their release is likely to trigger debates about how states have responded to the academic effects of the pandemic.
Since 2022, Indiana has passed several laws aimed at aligning the state’s early literacy instruction with a set of practices known as the science of reading.
Schools and teacher training programs are now required to use material based on the science of reading. And beginning this year, students who don’t pass the the third grade reading test — the IREAD-3 — will be be required to repeat third grade, with only a few exceptions.
Now Indiana lawmakers may turn their attention to math. A bill under consideration in the 2025 legislative session would change teacher preparation programs in regards to math instruction, as well as require math proficiency screeners and interventions for younger students.
The state has also invested state and federal funds in tutoring and summer school programs, and will likely seek help from lawmakers writing the state budget to keep those initiatives funded after the expiration of federal aid.
Other initiatives from lawmakers include addressing student absenteeism, which has declined nationally since 2022 but remains higher than in 2019. In a media call Tuesday, Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics Peggy Carr pointed to absenteeism as a factor in students’ scores.
“If students aren’t in school, they can’t learn,” Carr said.
Aleksandra Appleton covers Indiana education policy and writes about K-12 schools across the state. Contact her at aappleton@chalkbeat.org.
Indiana
Indy restaurants have a chance for Michelin recognition as inspectors scour culinary scene
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis will be included in the inaugural American Great Lakes Michelin Guide, a move expected to elevate the city’s culinary scene.
The partnership with Michelin will bring inspectors to Indianapolis restaurants, with results of evaluations expected in approximately one year.
The French tire company says restaurants in Indianapolis and five other cities will be featured. On Thursday, Morgan Snyder, Visit Indy’s vice president of communications and community relations, joined Daybreak to discuss what this means for the city.
She says Michelin inspectors are currently evaluating restaurants in Indianapolis after determining the city was a strong contender for recognition.
The evaluation process reportedly began without the city’s prior knowledge. “So unbeknownst to us, Michelin came into the market and was scouring our culinary scene,” Snyder said. “And then they decided Indianapolis is a strong contender and could put forth some Michelin restaurants.”
Indianapolis was invited to participate alongside five other Midwestern cities in this guide expansion.
“Not every city in the Midwest was invited,” Snyder said. “So, we should be excited about that opportunity that we have a seat at the table.”
Michelin recognition includes categories such as one, two, or three stars, Bib Gourmand distinctions, and Green Stars.
Michelin established a restaurant rating system in 1900, ranking the best with from one to three stars based on anonymous inspections evaluating ingredients, techniques, flavor, chef personalities, and consistency. The company created the guide to encourage more driving — and thus wear out more tires — by providing drivers with maps, hotel information, and dining recommendations.
“We’re humble Hoosiers often, and we don’t brag about our restaurants as much as we should, but there are so many incredible restaurants in our city,” Snyder said.
Aligning with the globally recognized Michelin brand, Snyder said this could enhance the perception of Indianapolis as a culinary destination and boost tourism. Michelin recognition also historically increases revenues for recognized chefs.
“There’s data that proves the (Michelin brand) increases tourism; there’s data that proves that Michelin-recognized chefs see an increase in their revenues if they’re Michelin-recognized.” She added, “So the proof is there that aligning with a Michelin brand can really move the needle in raising the game for an entire destination.”
The inaugural restaurant selection for the Great Lakes region — Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh — will be revealed in 2027.
The Michelin Guide has expanded across North America over several years. Its first North American Guide was for New York in 2005.
This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and
edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
Indiana
Committee recommends earlier teen curfew for summer in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — In a 9-to-1 vote, the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee of the Indianapolis City-County Council on Wednesday night recommended to move forward with a teenage curfew this summer.
Committee members say the curfew would be two hours earlier that once initiated last summer, if the full council approves it. The next council meeting will be 7 p.m. May 4.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department thinks teens showing disorderly or disruptive behavior may be stopped. Police Chief Tanya Terry backed the proposal, citing a troubling rise in youth violence. “We need to intervene early in a non-intrusive way and provide support to our young people.”
She said youth shooting victims were up 22% in the first three months of 2026 compared to the same time in 2025. Youth homicides were up by 4%.
“Keeping young people out of situations where they are more likely to be victims or be involved in violence is a priority and a shared responsibility that we all have. This is about safety and awareness for teens and their parents. It’s not about punishment its about partnership and prevention,” Terry said.
Under the proposal, under-15s must be home between 9 p.m. daily and 5 a.m. the next day. Teens age 15-17 must be home between 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 a.m. the next day, and between 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5 a.m. the next day. Exceptions would be made for youths with their parents, at-school events, or heading to or from work.
The city’s proposal would make the curfew start 2 hours earlier than the state’s curfew.
Teens who are stopped will be taken to a reunification center where they will be linked to community organizations.
If approved, the curfew would last 120 days.
Democratic council member Leroy Robinson, who chairs the public safety committee, said Wednesday, “Will it prevent and stop every single crime by a young person? Absolutely not. But what it will do, it will give enforcement policies to help our young people this summer, give them guardrails to support parents as well to reduce violence in our cities.”
Some councilors say more action is needed. Republican council member Josh Bain suggested Wednesday, “Showing that we take this seriously by putting the curfew fines in effect for parents and guardians of these habitual violators.”
Indiana
Chicago Bears deal could mean more toll road hikes in Indiana
Are the Chicago Bears serious about Indiana? House speaker weighs in
Will the Chicago Bears move to Indiana or are they just using us as a bargaining chip? House Speaker Todd Huston gives the latest.
More frequent toll hikes may be in Hoosier commuters’ future as part of the promised renegotiation of the Indiana Toll Road lease ― one of several carrots in the financing package Indiana lawmakers approved to lure the Chicago Bears to Hammond ― per an Indiana Finance Authority resolution that state lawmakers will review on April 16.
Under this agreement, which by law is subject to review by the State Budget Committee, the Indiana Toll Road’s private operator will be able to implement toll increases twice a year, rather than once, in exchange for lump sums totaling $700 million that may be put toward infrastructure or transportation projects in the seven northern Indiana counties near the proposed stadium site.
This was just one element of the state law the General Assembly passed nearly unanimously to incentivize the Chicago Bears to choose Indiana for the NFL team’s next home. Senate Enrolled Act 27 also creates a northwest Indiana stadium authority, a special taxing district around the theoretical stadium, and a litany of hospitality taxes the local governments would need to approve.
The Indiana Toll Road stretches 157 miles across northern Indiana from border to border. From end to end, the tolls cost just over $16 for the passenger car driver or up to $100 for the largest trucks.
Under the toll road’s current agreement, toll increases of at least 2% are assessed once a year. The amended agreement the Indiana Finance Authority approved on April 14 would change that to twice a year at a rate of at least 1.5%. In both cases, the increases could be higher if the rate of inflation is higher than those thresholds.
In exchange, the toll road operator would pay the state $300 million within a month, another $200 million within a year and another $200 million within two years. This money would be put into a special reserve fund, which can then be used to reimburse those seven northern border counties for infrastructure projects over the next three years, per Senate Enrolled Act 27.
The seven counties that stand to benefit from the infrastructure investments ― Elkhart, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Porter, Steuben and St. Joseph counties ― are connected to Hammond and the approximate proposed stadium site through the South Shore Line, a commuter train to and from Chicago.
Meanwhile, the Bears are still in talks with Illinois lawmakers about a financing deal that would keep the Bears in the originally planned Arlington Heights site. Those lawmakers are in session until the end of May.
Per state law, the finance authority can’t officially enact this agreement until after the state budget committee reviews it. That will happen at 1 p.m. April 16.
Contact IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X@kayla_dwyer17.
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