Idaho’s efforts to strengthen reading skills are paying off, and State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield says continued support for teachers is key to keeping that momentum going.
Each spring and fall, Idaho kindergarten through third grade students take the Idaho Reading Indicator, a test that helps teachers assess students’ skills in phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
Reading scores are rising across the state. This spring, 71% of students were reading at grade level, up from 66.5% last spring, an 11-point gain since fall. Kindergarteners showed the biggest jump, with 79% reading at grade level this spring compared to 66% last year. First graders also saw improvement, with a three-point increase from the previous year.
As students continue to improve, Critchfield says it’s essential to ensure teachers are equipped to support that progress in the classroom.
“We want to prepare our teachers on the front end so when they get into the classroom, this isn’t new learning for them,” Critchfield said, emphasizing that Idaho’s colleges of education play a critical role in giving new teachers a strong foundation in the science of reading.
For the more than 20,000 teachers already in Idaho classrooms, Critchfield says ongoing mentoring, coaching, and professional development are key, not just in elementary schools, but across all grade levels.
“Unfortunately, we see students that get to ninth and tenth grade who don’t have the reading abilities they need,” she said. “We want all of our teachers to be able to identify and help students wherever they are in their academic career.”
Looking ahead, Critchfield says her vision for the next five years is to keep “the pedal down” on phonics training and teacher coaching. She noted that a recent $5 million appropriation from the last state legislature session will help put real-time reading coaches in schools across Idaho.
“It’s not a program or a book,” Critchfield said. “It’s an actual coach that teachers in the classroom can look to for support and help. That’s the last piece of what we know to be effective strategies for increasing learning outcomes.”
When asked what she hopes the public takes away from the latest Idaho Reading Indicator results, Critchfield pointed to the dedication of Idaho’s educators.
“Our educators are getting the job done in their classrooms,” she said. “When we give them the tools, resources, and supports on the things that work, they will get that job done.”
Families can view the full Spring 2025 IRI results at idahoreportcard.org.