Indianapolis, Indiana, April 1, 2025 — Teach Plus Indiana today issued the following statement:
Teach Plus celebrates the reintroduction of legislative language to require training for administrators on the science of reading. This requirement, introduced as an amendment to SB358 by Rep. Robert Behning, will help close the literacy gap for Indiana’s students by ensuring that administrators in schools performing at 70% or less proficiency participate in the science of reading training. In alignment with the required literacy endorsement for elementary teachers and the placement of literacy coaches, this requirement will strengthen the literacy policy in the state and set up effective structures and support to ensure successful implementation of science of reading in our schools.
“When teachers are better supported and literacy is a part of the culture of the building starting with the administrator, students reap the benefits,” said Rachel Hathaway, Executive Director of Teach Plus Indiana. “The Department of Education and Chairman Behning have been champions of these literacy efforts and I am encouraged to see their ongoing commitment to improving our system to drive literacy gains.”
“During our statehouse day on March 4th, my peer Policy Fellows and I advocated for prioritizing support in our highest need schools and for the administrators to be well equipped to support their literacy coaches and staff. As a literacy coach who wants to collaborate more effectively with my administrators to implement the science of reading, I’m excited and encouraged to see this language in SB358,” said Christine Bizzell, a literacy coach in the Indianapolis Public Schools and a Teach Plus Policy Fellow.
“Improved literacy outcomes are a cornerstone of our strategic vision for building better opportunities and outcomes for Indiana’s students,” said Ms. Hathaway. “Teach Plus and Teach Plus teacher leaders are committed to helping create the right conditions in literacy policy and its implementation in order to ensure that every child in Indiana learns to read.”
About Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students. teachplus.org/in/
