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topicnews · October 23, 2024

The state superintendent wants state literacy law funding released

The state superintendent wants state literacy law funding released

More than a year after the Wisconsin Legislature passed Act 20 and Gov. Tony Evers signed it, the Department of Public Education is still waiting for the Joint Finance Committee to release nearly $50 million allocated under the new bill Legislation promised to improve the reading ability of public school children.

State DPI Superintendent Jill Underly appealed to the committee to release those funds in a letter sent Monday to state Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and state Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, who co-chairs the state committee, was sent. Underly said she has “repeatedly” called on the committee to release the funding.

This was among the topics Underly addressed in her annual State of Education address last month. Underly said at the time that the state legislature’s failure to release much of the funding needed to help schools implement the law had left already-struggling public schools having to finance the mandate themselves.

The new law requires schools to emphasize a phonics-based approach to teaching reading, meaning students learn to pronounce parts of words.

Evers signed the bill in July 2023 – after a controversial partial veto that has sparked legal disputes since the spring.

Evers proposed language in the bill that would have provided increased funding for private voucher schools and independent charter schools. He also extended an increase in state-imposed school district revenue limits SBy removing a hyphen and a “20” from a reference to the 2024-25 school year, this resulted in the largest single-year increase in revenue limits in state history.

“I understand that you have concerns about the Governor’s partial veto, but the District Judge’s clear decision in this case has now made it clear once again that you are obligated to provide these funds to DPI,” Underly wrote to Born and Marklein. “I know we agree that Wisconsin’s children need this critical support to learn to read, and we must support Wisconsin counties with the greatest need for early literacy. Now is the time to keep your promise to Wisconsin families. Now is the time to take action and release the funds.”

In April, the Wisconsin Legislature filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Evers’ partial vetoes of Act 20 on the grounds that they were unconstitutional.

In May, Evers filed a countersuit challenging the Legislature’s refusal to release funds for already approved investments, including money for the state’s literacy law.

A Dane County judge ruled in favor of Evers’ partial veto in August but did not authorize a release of the bill’s funding, according to online court records. Lawmakers appealed the judge’s decision to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, where the case is still being decided.

The funds will help DPI establish a new literacy office, an early literacy curriculum council, a statewide literacy coaching program and hire reading specialists.

Underly also said in her letter that the DPI has complied with its legal obligation to file a report on the status of the statewide literacy coaching program, but said it has not yet received an acknowledgment of receipt or response to the report.

She also pointed out that although DPI submitted a request to the committee for funds to administer the program, the Legislature did not schedule a hearing on that request, meaning DPI was unable to implement the program.

Born and Marklein did not immediately respond to phone or email messages seeking comment.

Reporters Jessie Opoien and Molly Beck contributed to this report.

Contact Alec Johnson at 262-875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

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