Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) received a $10.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to expand its literacy efforts across elementary schools.
The grant will support thousands of students with targeted reading instruction and at-home learning initiatives.
Announced as part of Phase 2 of Lilly Endowment’s Marion County K–12 Public Schools Initiative, the five-year investment will help IPS implement a comprehensive, research-based literacy plan expected to impact 18,500 students. The initiative aligns with statewide education goals and is a cornerstone of the district’s Rebuilding Stronger plan.
“We’re not only deepening our commitment to foundational literacy in our IPS elementary schools, but we’re also building a system of support that extends beyond the classroom and into the home,” said Aleesia Johnson, IPS superintendent. “This is exactly the kind of collaboration our children need — and deserve — to thrive.”
Key components of the initiative include:
- Expanded in-school intervention: In partnership with Tutored by Teachers, IPS will provide virtual tutoring to up to 3,400 high-risk 2nd- and 3rd-grade students in 23 schools to help improve IREAD-3 test performance.
- Support for families at home: A pilot program with Indy Reads will assist 75 parents and guardians, particularly from English Language Learner households, through a two-generation literacy initiative.
- Professional development for educators: Teachers will receive training aligned with the Science of Reading, including:
- LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), reaching 18,500 students
- Literacy Cadres from Marian University’s Center for Vibrant Schools, reaching 10,000 students
- Instructional coaching through the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, benefiting 16,000 students at 31 schools
The goals of the initiative include improving reading test scores, increasing 3rd-to-4th-grade promotion rates, and putting more students on track for postsecondary success.
“Education leaders from a wide array of public and private K–12 schools in Marion County responded to these initiatives by assessing the needs of their students and carefully researching evidence-based approaches,” said Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education.
Lilly Endowment is also making grants to private schools through a separate but related initiative.
Founded in 1937, Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation that focuses its funding on community development, education and religion, with a strong commitment to Indianapolis and the state of Indiana.
For more information about their work, visit lillyendowment.org.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
 received a $10.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to expand its literacy efforts across elementary schools. ){kind=link}