February 13, 2025 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – A $9.5 million investment from Lilly Endowment Inc. will fund an initiative by the Indiana Afterschool Network (IAN) to improve literacy outcomes for elementary-aged children across Indiana. This multi-year effort will utilize out-of-school time (OST) programs—which include before school, after school, and summer learning opportunities—to complement in-school learning and equip children with essential literacy skills.

At the core of the initiative is the Science of Reading—a comprehensive body of research that identifies the most effective methods for teaching children to read, emphasizing the components of word recognition and language comprehension. By connecting in-school and out-of-school learning, IAN’s initiative aims to create a cohesive learning experience that supports academic growth beyond the classroom.

“OST programs are uniquely positioned to support student literacy,” said IAN CEO Lakshmi Hasanadka. “By combining strong relationships between students and staff, spaces that allow for exploration and movement, and programming that is driven by youth interests, OST programs have the opportunity to make a powerful impact on students.”

Launching in 2025 and spanning four years, the initiative will:

• Develop a Science of Reading workforce credential tailored for out-of-school time program staff.
• Offer $6.5 million in grants to out-of-school time programs for implementing and enhancing research-based literacy programming.
• Provide tools, resources, and professional development opportunities that align with the Science of Reading to out-of-school time programs statewide.
• Establish a comprehensive evaluation system to measure literacy gains and ensure the effectiveness of the programming over time.

Reading proficiency has been declining in Indiana and across the country for many years. Recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) indicate that Indiana has made some progress in reading proficiency, especially relative to other states. However, according to NAEP, the majority of Indiana fourth and eighth grade students are still not proficient readers. By leveraging the thousands of existing OST programs across Indiana, this initiative seeks to create statewide partnerships and extend support that can directly address this challenge.

Given that as a group Indiana’s K-5 youth spend more than 86 million hours annually participating in OST programs, this initiative has the potential to make a significant impact on children’s academic growth and future success.

“OST programs and their staffs are dedicated to helping students thrive,” said Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education. “They are well-positioned to play an important role in improving reading instruction in Indiana by aligning their own practices with Science of Reading to reinforce what happens in the classroom.”

The grant to IAN complements other grants Lilly Endowment has made since 2022 to support efforts to expand and enhance the use of evidence-based instructional methods aligned with the Science of Reading in schools across the state. Grants are funding efforts in teacher preparation programs at Indiana colleges and universities to align their programs with Science of Reading principles and the work of the Indiana Department of Education to help current teachers implement Science of Reading-aligned methods in their classrooms.

###

About Indiana Afterschool Network

IAN is a statewide intermediary that advances learning beyond the school day by actively supporting providers with resources, training, and advocacy, while mobilizing a strong network of community partners. They work to build access to high-quality out-of-school time programs for all youth across Indiana.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.