SIEC's Literacy Training Support Specialists:
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​Marleigh Burris
Connie McDaniel
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Indiana Literacy Cadre
Supported by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis, and the Center for Vibrant Schools at Marian University, the Indiana Literacy Cadre is working to help Indiana’s students read proficiently by the end of third grade.
To achieve this mission, the Indiana Literacy Cadre develops and implements collaborative professional development for K-3 educators across the state based on the science of reading, a compilation of evidence-based research on reading, reading development, and reading instruction.
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IMPACT: Literacy Growth in Southern Indiana
Results from the 2024–25 IREAD assessment confirm that Indiana’s strategic investment in early literacy is working. Schools participating in the Indiana Literacy Cadre, including those supported by SIEC’s Training Support Specialists, saw an average 7-point increase in third-grade reading proficiency from 2024 to 2025, nearly double the growth of non-Cadre schools statewide.
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Here in Southern Indiana, our Literacy Cadre coaches Connie McDaniel and Marleigh Burris partner directly with educators to embed the science of reading in classrooms through ongoing coaching, modeling, and professional learning. Their work is helping schools accelerate literacy growth and ensure every child learns to read by third grade
Statewide Highlights
5-point increase in overall literacy rates — the largest single-year jump since IREAD began
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Literacy Cadre Schools: +7.0 percentage points
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Non-Cadre Schools: +3.6 percentage points
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450+ Indiana elementary schools now meet or exceed 95% reading proficiency
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Literacy gains recorded for all student groups for the first time in program history
📈 Source: Indiana Department of Education, “Indiana Achieves Unprecedented Growth in Third-Grade Literacy Rates” (August 2025)
