Nearly half of the state’s early literacy council resigned while the body was reviewing early literacy instructional materials, leading to a “months-long” delay in finalizing the recommendations, according to DPI. 

It’s at least the second time the council has had delays in approving curricula recommendations following the enactment of 2023’s Act 20, which requires a phonics-based approach to literacy instruction. 

State Superintendent Jill Underly in a passive review request sent to the Joint Finance Committee Tuesday said four of the nine seats on the Early Literacy Curriculum Council were left unfilled during the review period. 

As a result, Underly said, the nine titles forwarded to JFC for review were approved by five members, rather than the full nine specified in state law. 

“The resignations, coupled with a lengthy list of curricula to review, resulted in a months-long delay in finalizing a list of recommended early literacy curricula. Nonetheless, the Council engaged its members in the review of each set of materials that were submitted by 12 publishers,” Underly wrote. “The department was satisfied with the Council’s review process and thus did not engage in an independent review process.” 

She asked the committee to sign off on the recommendations for the 2026-27 school year. 

There are currently four open positions on the council – including all of GOP Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu’s appointees and one by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester.  

Vos, LeMahieu and Underly are each responsible for appointing three members. 

LeMahieu’s office told WisPolitics the Oostburg Republican’s appointments have been filled intermittently since the council was created and the office is in the process of vetting new appointees in the hopes of filling the positions shortly. 

Vos spokesperson Luke Wolff said the office has been working to identify a qualified appointee.

JFC co-chair Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, in a statement to WisPolitics noted he co-authored legislation that aimed to ease the burden on the council by requiring members to review instructional materials every three years instead of yearly. 

“I have heard from Council members that the annual review cycle is contributing to burnout and a high turnover rate,” Marklein said. “Many Council members maintain full-time jobs and serve in this capacity as volunteers. While the bill passed both houses of the Legislature, the Governor unfortunately vetoed this change, which would have helped alleviate the problem.”

In a veto message, Evers said he objected to lengthening the timeframe for the council to make recommendations. 

“While I appreciate that the bill may ease some of the burden on the council to produce recommendations on a compressed timeline, a three-year recommendation cycle may make it difficult for school districts to keep pace with revised and new curricula offerings,” Evers wrote. “Materials that are purchased in one year may not align with the council’s later recommendations, leading to increased costs for school districts and the undermining of the intent of Act 20.” 

According to DPI, resignations from the council over the past several months included: 

  • In August 2025, Vos appointee Joe Garza;
  • In September 2025, LeMahieu appointees Kari Flitz and Molly Mares and Vos appointee Kari Baumann; and
  • In February, Underly’s former state superintendent rival Brittany Kinser, who was appointed by Vos to complete Garza’s term. 

DPI spokesperson Chris Bucher said the council convened in August 2025 before submitting its recommendations this month. He said the council continues to meet statutory requirements despite turnover and that the delay shouldn’t impact schools’ ability to access materials. 

The council also ran into roadblocks for approving reading curricula in 2024. 

That year, the Department of Public Instruction recommended its own list of 11 titles for the 2024-25 school year due to concerns the newly formed council tasked with compiling them wasn’t reviewing the materials quickly enough. 

The council had failed to rate 13 of the titles that had been submitted for review. DPI at the time argued those vendors could sue because the council didn’t review their submissions. JFC rejected DPI’s list in favor of four recommendations from the council, including one title that was also in DPI’s recommendations.