Passing of former state representative, Indiana’s student literacy rates – The Statehouse File

Former Indiana Rep. Doug Gutwein, R-Francesville, died Friday. House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said Gutwein passed after a battle with cancer. He represented House District 16, which included all of Pulaski County and portions of Fulton, Jasper, Newton and Starke counties.

Huston: “I’m incredibly saddened by Doug’s passing and I’m praying for his family, especially his wife, Mary Lew. Doug left a lasting impression on his legislative family and our state. Once Doug set his sights on solving a problem, there was no stopping him. He tackled issues with passion and a fire to get things done. Whether it was cutting government red tape, supporting Hoosier veterans and service members, or finding ways to help newborns diagnosed with terminal diseases, Doug was relentless. He and his legacy will certainly live on, and he will be deeply missed.”

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne: “Rep. Doug Gutwein devoted 14 years of his life to serving his community at the Statehouse. He was a good family man who bravely served our country in the U.S. Army. I still remember the kindness he showed me when we both attended the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development in 2009 to become more effective Statehouse leaders. I am holding Rep. Gutwein’s family and loved ones in my thoughts and prayers and hope they find some comfort in the impact he made on our state and nation.”

On Nov. 22, House Republican leadership discussed the ongoing decline of literacy rates among Hoosier students. The 2023 IREAD- 3 results revealed that nearly one in five students, close to 14,000, are unable to read proficiently by third grade. Indiana’s literacy rate still falls below its pre-COVID-19 benchmark. Boosting reading proficiency will be a focus of the 2024 legislative session. On Friday, Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, released the following statement: 

“One-fifth of Hoosier third graders are unable to read at an adequate level. On Organization Day, House Speaker Todd Huston recognized there’s a reading proficiency crisis. He admitted that we’ve failed to curb the decline of literacy rates. 

“House Republicans’ 12-year control of education has contributed to the problem: They need to acknowledge that excessive testing and ever-changing ‘reform’ isn’t the answer. Reading proficiency is a critical predictor of future academic success or struggle. House Republicans must take responsibility for the continued decline in reading proficiency. 

“Their answer is truly punitive: hold back third grade students who are unable to read. Why are we bottlenecking the problem? Let’s solve this problem statewide instead of holding back individual students. We owe it to every Hoosier parent to properly assess this crisis. 

“I’ll tell you what we can’t do: Create more obstacles for educators. Instead, we must provide them with more resources. That may be more teacher’s aides, increased incentives or it may be simply leaving them at peace to do their work. Indiana teachers are leaving the profession in droves. We need to act now, and we need to act in the best interest of Hoosier students.”