Requirement
Reading and Language Arts Instruction is required for teachers in regular (EC, EC-MC, MC-EA, K-9), special education (EC, MC-EA, EA-A, K-12), reading teacher and administrative reading specialist in accordance to Wisconsin State statute §118.19(12) and PI 34.022(6).
Reading and Language Arts Verification Form
Due to changes enacted in 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, applications received on or after July 1, 2025 must provide verification of completed instruction or training that prepared the applicant to teach reading and language arts using science−based early reading instruction, as defined in Wis. Stats. §118.015 (1c) (b) to include:
- Phonological awareness, including word awareness, rhyme recognition, repetition and creation of alliteration, syllable counting or identification, onset, and rime manipulation,
- Phonemic awareness, including phoneme identification, isolation, blending, segmentation, addition, substitution, and deletion,
- Phonics,
- Building background knowledge,
- Oral language development,
- Vocabulary building to develop lexical and morphological knowledge,
- Instruction in writing,
- Instruction in comprehension, and
- Reading fluency.
On and after July 1, 2025, the applicant must obtain a completed Reading and Language Arts Verification Form (PI-1626) from the certification officer where their program or training was completed to verify that the requirements have been met. The applicant must upload the completed PI-1626 form with all other documents in ELO.
Check out the related Information Bulletin for FAQs and details.
Description
Educators must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of teaching reading and language arts using appropriate instructional methods including phonics to teach reading and language arts to pupils in grades PK to 6. "Phonics" means a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning the phonetic value of letters, letter groups, and syllables.
Courses that address this stipulation and meet the state statutory requirements that go into effect on July 1, 2025.
| Approved Educator Preparation Program Entity | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CESA 2 Licensure Academy for School Staff (CLASS) | Reading & Language Arts Act 20 |
| CESA 6 Residency in Teacher Education (RITE) Program |
Reading and Language Arts Instruction |
| CESA 7 Teacher Development Center | Foundations of Literacy |
| CESA 9 Excellence in Teaching Program (ETP) | Act 20: Science of Reading |
| eduCATE-WI | Reading and Language Arts Instruction |
| Urban Learning Collaborative | Reading and Language Arts |
The entities above offer these courses to those in their approved educator preparation programs and to those outside their programs to meet statutory stipulations.