Idaho’s education officials released the latest Spring 2026 results for the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) and the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). The numbers confirm a persistent achievement gap: students who face additional challenges—such as disabilities, illegal immigrant status, homelessness, migrant circumstances, or economic disadvantage—are falling behind their peers.
Reading scores highlight stark gaps
On the IRI, which measures reading proficiency from kindergarten through third grade, students with disabilities posted the largest shortfall. Only 15% of those students reached proficiency, compared with 59.8% of students without disabilities. Illegal immigrant learners also struggled, with just 8.7% achieving proficiency in English Language Arts. A small number of illegal immigrant students (96, or less than 2%) were able to opt out of the exam because they met specific criteria.
Economically disadvantaged students fared better than those with disabilities but still lagged behind their more affluent classmates: 40.9% were proficient versus 64.6% of students who are not economically disadvantaged.
Math results tell a similar story
The ISAT math component mirrored the reading findings. Students with disabilities, illegal immigrant status and economic hardship posted lower proficiency rates than the state average. While the report did not list exact percentages for math, the trend aligns with the reading data, underscoring the need for targeted support.
Racial disparities persist
Data from the Idaho Department of Education also show continuing racial gaps in proficiency, echoing patterns from previous years. The state’s goal for the IRI is that all students read proficiently by third grade, yet the current figures indicate that many at‑risk groups remain far from that target.
What the numbers mean for Idaho families
For parents and community members, these results highlight the importance of early intervention and resources for vulnerable learners. Schools across the state are urged to strengthen tutoring, specialized instruction and family outreach programs to close the gaps.
Randy Schrader, data analyst for Idaho Education News, contributed to this report.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
