Madison school officials gathered at a Rotary Club event on July 29 to acknowledge that, despite decades of effort, only about 40% of students in the district meet grade‑level reading standards. Superintendent Joe Gothard and senior executive director of curriculum and instruction Rebecca Kundert warned that the community cannot accept a situation where the majority of children lag behind.
Why past attempts fell short
Since the Madison School Board set a 1998 goal for every student to read at or above grade level by the end of third grade, the district has spent roughly $26,000 per pupil – far above the national average – yet the target remains unmet. Critics point to inconsistent teacher preparation, frequent leadership turnover, and a lack of transparent data as key obstacles.
Wisconsin’s earlier literacy mandates, such as the 2014 requirement that teachers pass the Foundations of Reading test, were undermined when the Department of Public Instruction allowed many failing candidates to continue teaching on temporary licenses. First‑time pass rates lingered in the mid‑60% range, sending a mixed message to educators and parents.
Act 20: A focused, data‑driven approach
In 2023 the Legislature, with Governor Tony Evers’ signature, enacted Act 20 – a law that shifts reading instruction for pre‑K through third grade toward proven phonics methods and the science of reading. The statute bans the outdated “three‑cueing” approach beginning in the 2024‑25 school year and mandates universal early‑literacy screening.
Screenings will be administered three times a year for kindergarten through third grade and twice for 4K students. Results must be reported directly to parents, accompanied by individualized reading plans for any child who falls below proficiency. School boards are required to adopt written promotion criteria for moving students from third to fourth grade by July 1, 2025, and starting September 1, 2027 they may not promote a third‑grader without meeting those standards.
The law also creates an Office of Literacy within the DPI, authorizes up to 64 literacy coaches, and establishes a Council on Early Literacy Curricula to vet instructional materials. A $50 million earmark in the supplemental appropriations bill funds these initiatives, despite ongoing litigation involving the DPI, the Legislature, and the Governor’s office.
Early results and community response
Preliminary data from the 2024‑25 school year show that 37% of the state’s 4K‑through‑third‑grade cohort scored below the 25th percentile nationally, with Madison lagging slightly at 43.7%. While these numbers highlight the challenge ahead, the new transparency measures give parents and local leaders a clear view of where resources are needed.
Parents and teachers have praised the increased accountability. “Having concrete screening results and a personal reading plan empowers us to help our children succeed,” said one Madison parent who attended the Rotary talk.
Learning from other states
Wisconsin’s reforms echo successful strategies in Mississippi, where a $100 million literacy investment in 2000, coupled with rigorous teacher training and mandatory intensive intervention for K‑3 students, led to measurable gains. By 2024 Mississippi’s fourth‑grade NAEP scores surpassed the national average for the first time, a milestone Wisconsin is now poised to emulate.
Act 20’s emphasis on phonics, early screening, and parental involvement aligns with the proven elements of those out‑of‑state successes. The legislation also addresses past transparency issues; DPI officials in 2008 warned against relying solely on state‑specific tests, and Act 20 now requires broader national benchmarks.
What families can do
Community members are encouraged to review their district’s spending, staffing levels, and enrollment figures, as well as the newly released early‑literacy screener data. Engaging elected officials about the implementation of Act 20 and holding schools accountable for meeting promotion criteria will help ensure the reforms translate into higher reading proficiency for Wisconsin’s children.
With decisive action from state leaders and a renewed focus on data‑driven instruction, Wisconsin has a real opportunity to finally meet the reading goals set over three decades ago.
Original reporting: Wisconsin Watch — read the source article.
