Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program
Wisconsin Statute § 115.39 established the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program — a key step toward strengthening reading instruction and supporting educators teaching students in 5K - 3rd across Wisconsin to read.
This page has frequently asked questions about the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program. It will be updated as information becomes available.
For general information about the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program, including important dates, visit Early Literacy Coaching Program.
- General Information
- Application Process for Schools
- Selection Process: Determining Which Schools Will Participate in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program
- Qualifications, Roles, and Responsibilities of the Early Literacy Coach in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program
- Hiring Early Literacy Coaches: A School or District Responsibility (11/17/25: Coming Soon)
- Reporting and Accountability for Participating Schools
- For Individuals Who Want to be an Early Literacy Coach in a School Participating in the Early Literacy Coaching Program (11/17/25: Coming Soon)
General Information
1. What will the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program do?
The primary goal of the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching program is to improve local systems so that schools increase the percentage of pupils meeting or exceeding expectations on the reading portion of the 3rd grade Forward.
2. Who funds these coaching positions?
These positions are funded by state general purpose revenue; funding was provided by the Joint Committee on Finance under s.13.10 (June 27, 2025) and is administered by DPI. Each position is funded for two years (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2028). Participating schools may hire an early literacy coach Spring 2026, which could result in a contract slightly longer than two years.
3. How many schools will be selected to participate in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program?
Contracts to participating schools will total the equivalent of 36 full-time positions. Each contract will be for one full-time or part-time coach.
Coaches will be assigned one school; however, two districts with half-time contracts could hire and share one coach.
Application Process for Schools
1. When will the application to participate in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program open and close?
Applications from schools wishing to participate in the Early Literacy Coaching Program will be accepted from December 1, 2025 through January 29, 2026.
On December 1, the application will be posted along with additional guidance, scoring criteria, and sample contract.
2. Are schools or districts selected to participate in the Early Literacy Coaching Program? Should the school or district apply?
Per statute, schools (not districts) will be selected to participate in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program.
Schools will complete the application and, when applicable, have approval from the district administrator before submitting.
For selected schools, the district will enter a contract with the Department of Public Instruction.
3. Schools that are selected to participate in the Wisconsin Early Literacy coaching Program will provide services under a contract with the Department of Public Instruction. Where will a sample contract for be shared?
The contract will be available along with the application on the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program website on December 1, 2025.
4. What if my school already has an early literacy coach? Should we still apply?
When reviewing applications, DPI will prioritize schools that do not currently have an early literacy coach.
However, schools that already employ a literacy coach are also eligible. In those cases, contract funds must be used to pay the early literacy coach’s salary and benefits, and the district’s existing funds that previously supported that position must be redirected to one of the following:
- Hiring staff for reading intervention in grades 5K–3.
- Hiring staff for reading intervention in grades 4–6.
- Supporting an additional coach serving grades beyond 5K–3.
- Implementing another early literacy staffing plan approved by DPI.
5. Will the application ask if the school is requesting to participate in the Early Literacy Coaching Program through a full-time or a half-time coach?
While completing the application, the school will indicate whether they require a half-time or a full-time coach to meet contract deliverables.
The application will ask for information about student demographics and achievement as well as 5K – 3rd grade staffing data (such as the number of 1st grade teachers or the number of special education teachers serving 5K – 3rd grade).
The school’s request and supporting data will be used in determining whether the school’s contract includes a half-time or full-time early literacy coach to meet contract deliverables.
A half-time coach serves 90 days distributed equally throughout the contract. The half-time coach must attend all professional learning facilitated by the DPI or its designee.
6. What is the role of the district in a school's application?
There is a place on the application to indicate the district’s support for the application and acknowledge that they have read the sample contract.
8. My school is a charter school. Should we still apply to participate in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program?
Charter schools are eligible for participation in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program.
Selection Process for Schools
1. How many schools will be selected for participation in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coach Program?
As specified in Wis. Stats. ss. 115.39(2)-(3), the DPI, in collaboration with CESAs, will select schools for participation in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program, in adherence with the following statutory requirements:
- Equal distribution of contracts between schools with the greatest literacy needs and schools that request a coach
- At least two participating schools will be private schools participating in Private School Choice Programs (PSCP)
Participating schools will total no more than 36 FTE coaches.
Statute also requires that no fewer than three coaches be assigned within each CESA region.
2. How will schools be selected for participation in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program?
Schools selected to participate in the Early Literacy Coaching Program will be selected based on the criteria in the law and the quality of their application as measured by scoring criteria that will be available along with the application and contract on December 1, 2025.
Applications from schools who do not currently have an early literacy coach will be prioritized.
The DPI anticipates that participation will be equal between CESA regions with no fewer than three schools participating per CESA region.
Based on the applications received, DPI, in collaboration with CESAs, will select schools to ensure an equal distribution between schools with the greatest literacy needs and schools that request a coach.
3. How will schools participating in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program be distributed throughout Wisconsin?
The DPI anticipates that participation will be equal between CESA regions with no fewer than three schools participating per CESA region.
Qualifications, Roles, and Responsibilities of the Early Literacy Coach in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program
1. What qualifications must the early literacy coach have?
Early literacy coach qualifications are explained in the sample contract.
2. Who determines what the early literacy coach will focus on?
Early literacy coaches will focus on completing the deliverables outlined in the contract, including working toward the school’s early literacy goal(s).
3. What are the main responsibilities of an early literacy coach in the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program?
Early literacy coaches will complete all duties required by the contract.
Early literacy coaches strengthen early reading instruction in K-3 classrooms by building educator capacity and supporting schools in implementing science-based early literacy practices to close achievement disparities in reading. Additionally, early literacy coaches collaborate with and coach teams to strengthen the school’s early literacy system.
4. Will there be required training for coaches?
The DPI Office of Literacy will provide professional learning in alignment with Wis. Stat. §115.39(2)(b).
In addition:
- The coach and a school team, including the building principal, will attend a foundational training in Wisconsin’s Model for Multi-Level Systems of Support.
- The coach will attend one in-person day of learning and training per month plus one additional day of virtual learning, which may be delivered in two half days.
5. Can the early literacy coach do anything besides coaching?
No. Wis. Stat. §115.39(3)(d) states that the early literacy coach may not perform duties outside the individual’s role as an literacy coach.
The early literacy coach is not allowed to do things outside of the contract deliverables.
Schools will not require the early literacy coach to engage in any non-coaching duties, including but not limited to providing direct instruction to students in a universal or intervention setting, administering screening or diagnostic assessments, developing personal reading plans, serving as a substitute teacher, monitoring students at recess, or monitoring students at lunch for the duration of the agreement.
Additional details about prohibited duties are included in the sample contract.
6. Are coaches responsible for evaluating teachers or schools?
No. Evaluation and supervision of teachers is a prohibited duty.
Coaches provide non-evaluative, capacity-building support to educators and administrators.
Reporting and Accountability for Participating Schools
1. What are the reporting requirements for the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program?
The early literacy coach will maintain documentation and evidence of their activities as described in the sample contract and will provide monthly updates of progress on the contract deliverables to the DPI Office of Literacy or their designee.
2. How will DPI report on the successes of the Wisconsin Early Literacy Coaching Program?
Annually, by October 15, the DPI Office of Literacy will report to the Legislature at least all data required in Wis. Stat. §115.39(4) to the DPI Office of Literacy.
This includes the reading portion of the 3rd grade Wisconsin Forward Exam and the early literacy screening.
For Individuals Who Want to be an Early Literacy Coach in a School Participating in the Early Literacy Coaching Program
11/17/15: Coming Soon