Reading Improvement Efforts in Wisconsin
Under the direction of Dr. Jill Underly, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has engaged in several efforts to support schools in delivering high-quality reading for all learners. Highlights include the State Superintendent's Reading Advisory Council, a diverse group of Wisconsin community members committed to strengthening literacy learning in Wisconsin's schools and supporting and implementing 2023 Wisconsin Act 20. This website will be updated with information about all efforts to implement 2023 Wisconsin Act 20 and to improve reading.
Latest Updates
Joint Committee on Finance Approves 2024-2025 Early Literacy Instructional Materials List
On March 11, the Joint Committee on Finance approved the 2024-2025 early literacy instructional materials list. Districts that purchase these materials, including consumables needed to implement these materials, on or after January 1, 2024 are eligible for a partial reimbursement grant. More details of the grant and the grant application will be available here soon. Note that these grants must be prorated based on the number of districts that apply. DPI cannot guarantee any specific amount of funding. Similar to federal funding grant reimbursements, districts will need to provide invoices in the claim process as evidence that eligible titles were purchased within an eligible calendar window.
Please note that at this time, DPI is unable to implement the partial curriculum reimbursement grant because the Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance has not released the funds for this program to DPI. It is unclear when DPI might receive these funds and implement this grant program.
Here is the list of early literacy instructional materials eligible for grants in 2024-2025.
- Bookworms Reading and Writing K-3 (Open Up Resources, 2022)
- Core Knowledge Language Arts K-3 (CKLA, Amplify Education, 2022)
- *EL Education K-3 Language Arts (Open Up Resources, 2017)
- **Wit and Wisdom (Great Minds, 2020) with Geodes and PK-3 Reading Curriculum (Really Great Reading)
*Note that EL is available in an open source format and is physically published by different publishers. The only publisher eligible for these grants is Open Up Resources.
**Note that to be eligible for these grants, an LEA must provide evidence that they are using all components of this package.
Schools and districts not using these titles may form a team and use the Wisconsin Act 20 Curriculum Crosswalk Toolkit found at this link to document whether the early literacy instructional materials they are using meet the Act 20 definition of science-based early literacy instruction.
Find a summary of the Early Literacy Curriculum Council's curriculum submission ratings here.
Find a summary of DPI's curriculum submission ratings and comparisons to the Early Literacy Curriculum Council and to other states here.
On February 19, DPI submitted a memo to the Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance recommending 11 early literacy instructional materials be approved for Wisconsin's recommended list. The Joint Committee on Finance has 14 days to approve or modify this recommendation. Find DPI's full memo at this link. Find the Early Literacy Curriculum Council's letter with recommendations at this link.
Early Literacy Curriculum Council
Find information about the appointed Early Literacy Curriculum Council here and in the left-hand navigation bar.
Find information and details about meetings of the Early Literacy Curriculum Council here and in the left-hand navigation bar.
Information for Vendors and Publishers
The Wisconsin early literacy curriculum council is seeking submissions for early literacy (5K through grade 3) instructional materials for review and recommendation to the Department of Public Instruction with the goal of creating a recommended list of early literacy instructional materials for Wisconsin schools and districts that meet the statutory definition of science-based early literacy instruction as found in 2023 Wisconsin Act 20.
Vendors and publishers submitting materials can find all information in the left-hand navigation bar.