MADISON, WIS. – Many Wisconsin school districts are struggling to comply with Act 20, a literacy law mandating science-based reading instruction, according to a recent Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) report and an open records investigation by nonprofit advocacy group Forward Literacy. The DPI submitted its required Literacy Coaching Report to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) one day late on October 16, 2025, detailing the status of literacy coaches hired and teachers trained in science-based literacy practices.
Literacy Coaches
In June 2025, the JFC released $9 million to fund literacy coaches, yet no coaches have been hired to date. The report, submitted by Office of Literacy Director Barb Novak who is unconfirmed by the Wisconsin Senate, outlines a timeline for implementation, projecting full deployment of literacy coaches by May 2026.
“The lack of urgency in implementing the literacy coaching program is concerning,” said Katie Kasubaski, executive director of Forward Literacy, a nonprofit advocating for science-based literacy practices and monitoring Act 20 compliance. “With $9 million allocated four months ago, the coaching program should already be underway. For families like mine, with children who struggled with early literacy, waiting another year for support risks further setbacks. Our kids can’t afford delays.”
Training
The DPI report shows progress in school district reporting, but only 58% of teachers have completed the mandatory Act 20 training. Forward Literacy’s investigation, which reviewed training data from 1,121 public elementary and charter schools, revealed that five schools reported using administrative training programs that do not comply with Act 20 requirements.
“The DPI report lacks clarity on which training programs meet Act 20 standards,” Kasubaski noted. “Our investigation identified at least five schools using non-compliant training, which raises serious concerns about the law’s implementation.”
National Context
Other states, such as Mississippi, have seen significant literacy gains through robust implementation, literacy coaches, and teacher training. Mississippi, which rose from 49th to ninth in national early literacy rankings by 2024, serves as a model for effective policy execution.
Only 70 percent of Wisconsin’s 432 public school districts and public/independent charter schools complied with Forward Literacy’s records request. Among the state’s largest school districts, Eau Claire, Green Bay and Milwaukee schools have not responded with requested information.
