Act 20: Professional Development Training Requirement
2023 Wisconsin Act 20 requires that 5K - 3rd grade teachers and administrators are prepared to deliver or supervise explicit and systematic instruction in all nine areas of science-based early literacy without using three-cuing.
Professional Development Training Requirement
Submitting for Partial Reimbursement for Professional Development Training Costs (applications closed August 1, 2025)
Professional Development Training Requirement
NOTE: The guidance below was previously on the Act 20 FAQ page. (Updated 5/20/25)
1. What professional development training is required for educators teaching 5K - 3rd grade?
2. Which educators are required to complete the reading training?
3. What reading training is required for administrators?
4. Which administrators are required to complete the administrator specific reading training?
6. How can other reading trainings or providers be added to the list of required reading trainings?
8. How will the reading training requirement be enforced?
(5/20/25)10. Beyond the professional development training required in Act 20, what on-going learning could support systems-level implementation of explicit and systematic instruction in science-based early literacy?
(5/20/25) 11. Will teachers and administrators certified after July 1, 2025, need training in science-based early literacy instruction?
1. What professional development training is required for educators teaching 5K - 3rd grade?
By July 1, 2025, all individuals employed as a 5K-grade 3 teacher or reading teacher in a district or independent charter school will need to begin a reading training that meets the following criteria:
- Lexia Learning Systems, LLC, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training
- Another program endorsed by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction as an accredited independent teacher training program. These eligible trainings are found here.
2. Which educators are required to complete the reading training?
Educators who teach 5K-grade 3 reading, including classroom teachers, reading teachers, special education teachers, and teachers of multilingual learners in districts and independent charter schools.
3. What reading training is required for administrators?
By July 1, 2025, all individuals employed as a district reading specialist or principal must complete a reading training that meets the following criteria:
- Offered by the Leadership in Literacy Institute or
- Offered by a provider that meets all of the following requirements:
- The provider provides evidence of at least 5 years of experience conducting evidence-aligned, systematic, structured literacy training specifically for school principals, administrators, and literacy teams.
- The provider demonstrates that the training content is aligned with the National Reading Panel Report and subsequent updates of the research by the Institute of Education Sciences.
- The provider requires that training include a substantial focus and understanding on direct instruction.
- The provider delivers the training over at least 6 days.
- The provider provides participants with activities to implement evidence-aligned systems and structures that effectuate change in the school or school district.
- The provider delivers training that allows for a minimum of 30 participants.
- Districts have the authority to select the training for administrators that they determine meets the necessary criteria.
DPI recommends that districts reach out to CESAs to explore possible local options.
For administrators hired between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025, the professional development training requirement must be met within six months of the date of hire.
4. Which administrators are required to complete the administrator specific reading training?
District reading specialists and principals for grades 5K-3 in public school districts and independent charter schools are required to complete the administrator specific reading training. School districts should consider the roles and responsibilities of others in the district who may hold administrator licenses. If those roles and responsibilities include supporting early literacy instruction or assessment, they should participate in the reading training for administrators.
5. Are there funds for districts and independent charter schools for the required reading training? (updated 5/20/25)
Districts and independent charters are responsible for costs associated with the professional development training requirement.
Visit Act 20 and Federal Funds for information about use of federal funds to pay costs associated with the professional development training.
One-time state funds were made available for professional development training enrollment fees; however, those funds are not yet available due to a lawsuit. More information is available below.
6. How can other reading trainings or providers be added to the list of required reading trainings?
Act 20 is clear that the required reading training for 5K - 3rd grade educators must either be LETRS or an independent teacher training program accredited by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). These trainings are found here and DPI does not have the ability to add other reading trainings to this list.
DPI does not maintain a list of approved reading trainings for district administrators. School districts may review the criteria for the required reading training for administrators and review evidence from a provider to determine for themselves if a reading training meets the criteria.
7. If educators or administrators have previously participated in a reading training that meets the Act 20 criteria, do they have to participate in another reading training?
The school board is responsible for ensuring all teachers meet the training requirement. The school board may determine that if an educator or administrator can provide evidence that they have previously participated in a reading training that meets the Act 20 criteria, they do not need to participate in another eligible reading training.
8. How will the reading training requirement be enforced?
Districts and independent charter schools are responsible for ensuring that educators and administrators have completed the necessary training. Each local education agency (LEA) should develop a local system for keeping track of which educators and administrators have participated in a required reading training.
Per statute, districts and independent charter schools will submit completion information to DPI, and DPI will compile a report to the legislature. The report detailing professional development training completion for 2023 - 2024 is available here.
In late-summer 2025, districts and independent charter schools will be surveyed about completion in 2024 - 2025.
The statutory reporting requirement ends with the 2024 - 2025 school year.
9. What professional development training is required of educators and administrators hired after July 1, 2025?
The department recommends that a district or independent charter school verify that their educators and administrators (reading specialists and principals) serving in 5K through 3rd grade understand and can apply the principles science-based early literacy instruction.
This could include, for teachers, asking for evidence of completion of LETRS or another CERI approved training. For administrators, this could include asking for evidence of completion of a professional development training program that is offered by the Leadership in Literacy Institute or a provider that meets all of the following requirements:
- The provider provides evidence of at least 5 years of experience conducting evidence-aligned, systematic, structured literacy training specifically for school principals, administrators, and literacy teams.
- The provider demonstrates that the training content is aligned with the National Reading Panel Report and subsequent updates of the research by the Institute of Education Sciences.
- The provider requires that training include a substantial focus and understanding on direct instruction.
- The provider delivers the training over at least 6 days.
- The provider provides participants with activities to implement evidence-aligned systems and structures that effectuate change in the school or school district.
- The provider delivers training that allows for a minimum of 30 participants.
Even if a 5K – 3rd grade teacher or administrator demonstrates they’ve completed the professional development training required by Act 20, the district or independent charter school could consider providing the same professional development training that others in the district or ICS have engaged in. This could promote a systematic approach and allow for increased collaboration.
10. Beyond the professional development training required in Act 20, what on-going learning could support systems-level implementation of explicit and systematic instruction in science-based early literacy?
In addition to ensuring the teacher or administrator can apply the principles of science-based early literacy instruction as outlined in Act 20, consider other literacy learning the teacher or administrator may need to be prepared to teach or supervise universal instruction and/or intervention. That could include but is not limited to:
- training in how to use the curriculum and materials,
- training about particular instructional strategies that are critical to implementing the curriculum,
- or training about when it might be appropriate to modify the curriculum when students aren’t responding to instruction.
Research shows that training is most effective when supported by on-going coaching.
For teachers: Any teacher certified on or after July 1, 2025, must complete an educator preparation program that includes demonstrating an ability to teach all nine areas of science-based early literacy instruction in ways that are explicit and systematic without including three-cueing. While what happens in the EPP can’t be equated to LETRS or a training from the CERI list, those certified on or after 7/1/25 must have demonstrated the ability to provide instruction as required by Act 20.
Even if a 5K – 3rd grade teacher completed a preparation program that included science-based early literacy instruction, the district or independent charter school could consider providing the same professional development training that others in the district or ICS have engaged in. This could promote a systematic approach and allow for increased collaboration.
For administrators: Act 20 states that those hired between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025, have six months to complete the professional development training requirement. It does not say anything further about teachers or administrators.
Act 20 did not include requirements for preparation programs for administrators (principals or reading specialists). The district or independent charter school should not assume that an administrator certified after July 1, 2025, understands the administrators role in supporting science-based early literacy instruction. Therefore, the district or independent charter school is encouraged to have administrators certified after July 1, 2025, complete professional development training about literacy leadership.
Submitting for Partial Reimbursement for Professional Development Training Costs (Application closed August 1, 2025)
2023 Wisconsin Act 20 requires that 5K – 3rd grade teachers and administrators complete professional development training about science-based early literacy. The 2023 – 2025 state budget includes limited funding to supplement what districts and independent charter schools have spent to meet the Act 20 professional development training requirement.
Statewide, districts and independent charter schools are eligible to receive a one-time per teacher or per-administrator payment. To be eligible for this payment, a district or independent charter school must submit the number of 5K – 3rd grade teachers and administrators trained from July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025. Review the guidance below before beginning the form.
Because the funds for these one-time payments are involved in a lawsuit, completing the form is not a guarantee of payment. Should the lawsuit be settled in a way that makes the money available, the department will distribute payments as soon as possible.
You will not receive a confirmation after you complete/submit the form. You cannot make changes to a form once it is submitted. Contact early.reading@dpi.wi.gov with questions.
1. To be eligible for the one-time payment, when must 5K - 3rd grade teachers be enrolled in the professional development training requirement?
5K – 3rd grade teachers must be enrolled in LETRS or a CERI-approved training by July 1, 2025.
5K – 3rd grade administrators (principals and reading specialists) must complete a training that meets the statutory requirements by July 1, 2025.
To be eligible for reimbursement, the enrollment fees must have been paid with local funds (not federal funds, including Motion 57).
The school board or independent charter school is responsible for determining which teachers must enroll in and complete the professional development training requirement. The school board and independent charter school is also responsible for documenting who has completed the professional development training requirement.
2. To be eligible for the one-time payment, when must administrators complete the professional development training requirement?
To be eligible for reimbursement, administrators must complete the professional development training by July 1, 2025.
To be eligible for reimbursement, the enrollment fees must have been paid with local funds (not federal funds, including Motion 57).
Statute requires principals and reading specialists serving in schools that include 5K - 3rd grade to complete the professional development training requirement. The school board and independent charter school is responsible for documenting who has completed the professional development training requirement.
3. We trained teachers, administrators, or paraprofessionals beyond the requirements of Act 20 (such as training all teachers 4K through 5th grade or training special education directors). Can we include them in our count of teachers and administrators trained?
The numbers reported in the form should reflect the number of 5K – 3rd grade teachers and administrators who were, per Act 20, required to complete the professional development training requirement.
4. How will the rate of reimbursement for professional development training costs be calculated?
Districts and independent charter schools will receive a one-time payment per teacher or administrator who completed the professional development training requirement. When the survey closes (June 13, 2025), the per teacher or administrator rate will be calculated based on the statewide number of teachers and administrators trained.
The amount of reimbursement will not exceed the actual amount spent by a district or independent charter school.
At this time, there is no way to estimate what the payment per teacher or administrator will be.
5. If a district or independent charter school completes the form, when will the payment be received?
The 2026 - 2028 Wisconsin state budget made funds for reimbursement available.
Through August 1, 2025, use the application to submit for reimbursement of registration costs for training for administrators and teachers from July 2023 - June 30, 2025.
Subscribe to the Early Literacy Newsletter for updates about possible future opportunities for reimbursement of costs incurred on and after July 1, 2025.
6. What local records should we maintain to verify what we submit in the survey?
Maintain records according to your local records retention policy; the DPI or the state audit bureau can request records to verify your survey entries at any time.
Locally, you may consider maintaining records that confirm the number of teachers and administrators trained. This could include but is not limited to invoices for the cost of training and proof of payment and/or documentation that confirms each teacher or administrator completed the training.
7. Are private schools participating in Private School Choice Programs (PSCP) eligible for reimbursement for professional development training?
5K – 3rd grade teachers and administrators at private schools, including private schools participating in PSCP, are not required to complete the professional development training . Therefore, private schools, including those participating in PSCP, should not complete the survey and are not eligible for the one-time payment.