Act 20 Updates From DPI

Laura Adams, Policy Initiatives Advisor, DPI

With implementation of Wisconsin’s reading legislation, Act 20, happening so quickly, DPI wants to ensure that all of our district leaders have the most up-to-date information. 

An amendment to Act 20 was signed by the Governor in late March. This amendment concerns two Act 20 topics: delaying the first required administration of the reading screener next school year and eligible providers of the required reading training. 

In school year 2024-2025, 4K learners will be required to take the reading screener once in the spring. Learners in 5K through grade 3 will be required to take the reading screener twice – once mid-year and once in the spring. DPI will explore the option of an optional fall screening window with the selected vendor. DPI is on track to sign a final contract with the selected test vendor by July 1 and expects to share additional information and details about the new screener in August. As a reminder, DPI is purchasing this screener for all districts and will ensure that all districts have the necessary training and all materials necessary to administer the screener.

The amendment also expands eligible providers of the required reading training for teachers. Any educator who participated in a reading training on science-based early literacy instruction offered by CESAs 6, 8, or 9, between May 1, 2021, and July 1, 2024, has met the Act 20 reading training requirement. After July 1, 2024, only reading trainings accredited by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction meet the teacher reading training requirement. Districts should develop a local system for tracking which educators and administrators have participated in a reading training, and the name of that training. 

You may have seen the recent news about a lawsuit filed by the state legislature against the Governor and DPI connected to Act 20. First and most importantly, this legislation is not delaying the Department’s work, nor should it delay yours. We are all moving ahead with implementation of all components of the statute. The Department is working to ensure that funding isn’t interrupted. Our legislative partners are also still committed to Act 20 changes. This lawsuit is about specific legislative authority, and we are just caught in the middle. More information will be shared by DPI soon, but do not let this distract you from the real work of supporting Wisconsin learners. 

The approved list of early literacy curricula eligible for the partial reimbursement grants is found on https://dpi.wi.gov/wi-reads. Allowable costs include the purchase of one of these eligible curricula or consumables necessary for ongoing implementation of an eligible curriculum on or after January 1, 2024. The Early Literacy Curriculum Council will submit their next recommended list by December 1, 2024. DPI is still considering how to equitably award the partial curriculum reimbursement grants. Since the grants must be prorated based on the number of districts that apply, DPI is considering several different approaches to awarding these grants to ensure that the greatest number of interested districts are able to apply and receive some funding through 2026. 

DPI has developed a tool for district teams to review existing early literacy curriculum in order to identify and document whether that curriculum meets the early literacy instructional requirements of Act 20. Find that tool here. 

Additional resources will be published in the coming months, including a template for the local reading remediation plan and a template for personal reading plans to be published by the end of May, and a template for family notifications, a recommended list of diagnostic reading assessments, and additional guidance regarding Act 20 and Child Find and Act 20 and bilingual/dual language immersion programs to be published in June. 

Answers to common questions about Act 20 and what is required from districts can be found on the department’s Act 20 FAQ webpage. Questions and requests can also be sent via email to [email protected]. This inbox is monitored by multiple DPI staff. We also encourage you to reach out to your local Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) literacy consultants, who regularly collaborate with the department on all things Act 20. 

Thank you, school leaders, for your continued commitment to early literacy and to each Wisconsin learner.