Team Up for Literacy

2026 Read to the Final Four

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Read to the Final Four program was one of the largest in the initiative’s history, engaging 20,000 third-grade students from nearly 400 schools across Indiana. Together, participating students read more than 26 million minutes.

As the first city to host the Division I, II and III men’s basketball national championship games during the same weekend, Indianapolis introduced a new twist to the NCAA’s longstanding reading program by placing participating classrooms into three divisions. Rather than inviting only four finalist classrooms to the culminating celebration, Indianapolis welcomed 710 students representing 11 schools to a special event at Men’s Final Four Fan Fest inside the Indiana Convention Center. Click here to see the final four schools across all three divisions. 

The program’s impact extended beyond the reading challenge. Throughout the initiative:

• 3,000 literacy kits were distributed to participating students.
• 5,990 books were placed in the hands of young readers.
• New shoes were provided to 305 winners.
• 26 new bicycles were awarded to top readers.
• $75,000 in Literacy Legacy Grants was invested in schools and literacy programs across Indiana.

Through these investments and the remarkable commitment of students, educators and families, the 2026 Read to the Final Four program created a lasting literacy legacy across the Hoosier State.

Read to the Final Four Celebration

The 2026 Men's Final Four Read to the Final Four Celebration was a memorable experience for the top four classes across the three divisions at Men's Final Four Fan Fest. Indiana Secretary of Education, Katie Jenner, and NCAA VP of Basketball, JoAn Scott, congratulated the students and teachers on their incredible achievements. Lots of prizes were given away including cash prizes to the top schools, the first-place schools received new shoes, and the top-26 individual readers were awarded brand new bikes built by the spirit squads from the Men's Final Four teams. 

Final Four Literacy Legacy Grants 

Through the Read to the Final Four Literacy Legacy Grant program, $75,000 was invested in Indiana schools and programs to create meaningful, long-term opportunities for young readers. Launched in November 2025 with support from the NCAA, Indiana Sports Corp and the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Indianapolis Local Organizing Committee, the program was open to schools participating in Read to the Final Four educational programming across the state.

Transforming School Libraries

Five Indiana schools received Library Makeover Grants to improve the spaces where students read, learn and explore. Funding supported infrastructure improvements, technology upgrades and cosmetic enhancements tailored to each school’s needs.

Grant recipients included:

• Center for Inquiry School 70 — Indianapolis
• Paragon Elementary School — Paragon
• Coulston Elementary School — Shelbyville
• St. Peter Lutheran School — North Judson
• Wea Ridge Elementary School — Lafayette

Recognizing Indiana’s Literacy Champions

During visits from the Final Four Fan Jam Promotional Truck, 15 educators and school leaders were recognized as Literacy Legacy Champions for their exceptional work encouraging students to read.

Each champion received a $1,000 grant to strengthen literacy initiatives at their school. Honorees represented communities across Indiana, including Glen Acres Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, Warren Online Academy, Carroll Elementary, Westville Elementary, Brownstown Elementary and Greensburg Elementary.