Indy Reads

To understand the importance of what Indy Reads does, you only need to think about what you are doing right now. You are reading. It is a process so automatic for most of us that we rarely think about its power. Yet 1 in 6 adults in Indiana reads below a 5th-grade level, and, unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult for adult learners to access literacy education.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 25% of Marion County adults are at or below Level 1 functional literacy, with people of color and lower incomes disproportionately affected. Indy Reads serves over 590 adult learners and their families annually, representing 58 countries and 49 languages.

Indy Reads’ programs cater to diverse learners, focusing on racial, cultural, economic, and educational inclusivity, and have been nationally recognized. In 2025, Indy Reads was honored with a Library of Congress Literacy Award and was named a 2025 Neighborhood Builder® by Bank of America.

In the last year, at least four central Indiana English Language Learning (ELL) providers have suspended programs due to federal funding freezes, leaving an estimated 5,000 learners without a place to continue their education. As a result, demand for Indy Reads programs is skyrocketing. We have seen a 233% increase in the number of individuals expressing interest in our programs, all the while doubling the number we served just three years ago. Demand for ELL classes still exceeds our capacity by more than 50%.

As the only organization in the region formally serving the most beginning-level learners and beyond, program participants gain essential skills that can help them access better-paying jobs, improve their health and well-being, and actively engage in their communities.

Meeting this community demand is Indy Reads’ greatest opportunity over the next five years. Our unique ability to serve students across the full spectrum of literacy skills, including the most beginning levels, and our range of non-traditional literacy programs (Family Literacy, Workforce Literacy, and more) enable us to fill a critical gap in central Indiana’s adult education and community-building ecosystem. Securing the resources to grow swiftly and sustainably is our greatest challenge and opportunity to meet these urgent community needs.