Early literacy programs administered by the Department of Public Instruction

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

2023 Wisconsin Act 20 created the Office of Literacy in the Department of Public Instruction. Act 20 requires the office to establish and supervise an early literacy coaching program to improve literacy outcomes. As part of that program, the office must contract for up to 64 full-time literacy coaches to provide support to administrators, school-based literacy coaches, principals, and teachers to build teacher and school capacity to teach reading and language arts using science-based early reading instruction. Act 20 also requires school boards and operators of charter schools to ensure that kindergarten to third grade teachers, elementary school principals, and reading specialists receive certain professional development related to literacy instruction by no later than July 1, 2025. Finally, Act 20 requires DPI to award grants to school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program that adopt a recommended literacy curriculum that contains the components of science-based early reading instruction and does not include three-cueing.

As part of 2023 Wisconsin Act 19 , the biennial budget act, $50,000,000 was appropriated for a literacy program administered by DPI. This bill creates a structure for DPI to expend these funds as they are transferred by the Joint Committee on Finance.

Who's behind it

Duey Stroebel, a Republican, is its author⁠.

1 more lawmaker signed on in support⁠.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories
• LC Amendment Memo