Idaho students posted statewide gains in early literacy and on the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) in spring 2026, according to results released by the Idaho Department of Education on August 19, 2026.
The department reported that overall scores improved on both the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) and the ISAT, with increases in the percentage of students scoring at grade level in every subject measured. ISAT results showed three consecutive years of rising proficiency, while IRI results indicated that K-3 students and teachers are seeing success with the second administration of a newer, more rigorous IRI assessment.
The Amira IRI assessment, administered each fall and spring to students in kindergarten through third grade, now emphasizes more complex skill testing and requires students to construct responses instead of selecting from multiple-choice options. According to the release, this change is intended to reduce “lucky choice” answers and measure deeper learning in phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension.
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The department highlighted several IRI results, including almost a 30 percentage point increase in fall-to-spring kindergarten proficiency rates, a 13 percentage point fall-to-spring proficiency increase across all K-3 grades, an overall rise in proficiency and a decrease in the share of students scoring below grade level. Third graders, who have had the most exposure to Idaho classrooms, continued to show year-to-year improvement in proficiency rates.
State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield credited investments in literacy support, including the Idaho SMART Project, which the department recently implemented statewide. The project provides K-3 teachers with one-on-one coaching and a system of literacy support grounded in the science of reading and Idaho’s literacy laws. Critchfield also cited the Idaho Legislature’s support for literacy coaches and described the improvements as a return on the state’s investment.
ISAT results showed statewide proficiency increases of 0.8% in both math and English language arts and a 1% increase in science. High school test takers reversed a two-year downward trend, with proficiency up 2.2% in English language arts and 1.7% in math. Science proficiency rose 2.6%, reaching its highest level since the current science assessment became operational in 2022.
The release noted gains among several student groups. Students experiencing homelessness saw proficiency increases of 2.2% in English language arts, 1.5% in math and 4% in science. Students in foster care recorded overall proficiency gains of 1.4% in English language arts and 3.2% in math. Students from military families and economically disadvantaged students have shown continued growth in all three subject areas over the past three years.
Governor Brad Little and Superintendent Critchfield stated in the release that the results reflect the impact of targeted investments, classroom instruction, tutoring, collaboration, professional development, and initiatives such as Math Badging and Science Coaches. They also linked the results to Idaho’s participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s Returning Education to the States initiative.
Complete spring 2026 IRI and ISAT results are available on the Idaho Report Card website at https://www.idahoreportcard.org/.
This brief was generated from a public document. Source: https://www.sde.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/08-19-2026-Idaho-Students-Show-Strong-Progress-in-Early-Literacy.pdf
