Court’s Ruling Allows IRG-Backed Reading Reforms to Move Forward
Delafield, Wis. – The Institute for Reforming Government (IRG) released the following statement following the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in Wisconsin State Legislature v. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
WHAT HAPPENED:
The ruling determined Governor Tony Evers’s partial veto was unconstitutional because the legislation at issue was not an appropriations bill. It also determined that the Legislature’s action to withhold $50 million in literacy funding was permissible because the Legislature’s general intent to designate funds for a particular later use lacked the force of law, as it was only expressed in informal papers like an LFB memo.
IRG has advocated for reading reforms since 2021. Its advocacy partner, IRG Action, supported Act 20. IRG has been the leader on Act 20 oversight since 2023, supporting school implementation, advocating for strict adherence to the law, and preventing Wisconsin’s education establishment from falling into the same old failed methods.
THE QUOTE:
“For a unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court to affirm that Tony Evers’s use of his veto pen was unconstitutional, it’s clear that the overuse of his pen is running out of time,” said CJ Szafir, CEO of the Institute for Reforming Government. “The Institute for Reforming Government was proud to join the fight for our kids by pushing smart reforms that will bring our kids back to the top.”
WHY IT MATTERS:
Wisconsin ranks 34th nationally in early reading, adjusted for demographics. Groups like IRG, Decoding Dyslexia, and The Reading League spent years arguing that Wisconsin should copy leading literacy states like Mississippi, Massachusetts, and Florida to teach children how to read. Wisconsin joined much of the nation in doing so when it passed 2023’s historic Act 20. However, DPI and the Governor have battled the Legislature on implementation: textbook choices, meeting critical teacher training deadlines, and what aspects of reading reform deserve funding priority.
This ruling affirms the Joint Finance Committee’s ability to manage the release of earmarked funds to state agencies, ensuring these funds will be used for the purpose for which they were specifically earmarked.
WHAT’S NEXT:
Broken political promises have blemished reading reforms, ultimately leaving schools to rack up bills with no refund. The Legislature now has the opportunity to pass updated Act 20 accountability measures and provide schools with significant funding for reading curriculum, teacher training, and screening tests. The literacy crisis is urgent. It is long past time to put children first.
