Funds Budgeted for Reading Changes in Wisconsin Will go into State's Surplus if Not Used by June 30th

Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 -- 11:01 AM

(Corrinne Hess, Wisconsin Public Radio) If the $50 million allocated to fund mandated reading changes in Wisconsin schools is not released by the Legislature by June 30, the money will go into the state’s massive surplus. 

According to Corrinne Hess with Wisconsin Public Radio, the money has been fought over since February 2024, with members of the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee saying the Department of Public Instruction can’t be trusted to spend it.

Changes to how students are taught to read began this school year under a law passed in summer 2023 known as Act 20. Wisconsin school districts began shifting children to a phonics-based reading instruction for 4-year-old kindergarten through third grade this fall.

But the change is complicated and expensive. New curriculum has to be purchased by already cash-strapped school districts. And literacy coaches need to be hired.

State Superintendent Jill Underly says Republicans are “playing politics” by withholding funding that is critical for fully implementing Act 20. “I mean, we all agree that every child should have the ability to read, and that’s why this funding is so important,” Underly said.

“Schools have done their part. It’s the legislature that is not doing its part. That money was already promised and approved, and yet the Joint Finance Committee is putting politics ahead of our kids’ future.”

Act 20 was a bipartisan bill, proposed by Republicans who worked with DPI on the details. When it was approved, the Legislature created a separate, nearly $50 million appropriations bill for implementation.

Then disagreements began over how that money would be used, and who would decide how to use it. Wisconsin allows its governors to use partial vetoes on appropriations bills.

Evers’ use of that power in February 2024 prompted a lawsuit in April from Legislative Republicans asking the $50 million be withheld from DPI. Evers and DPI then filed a counterclaim saying without the money, implementing the new law in time for the 2024-25 school year will be impossible.

In July, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 6-1 the GOP overstepped its constitutional authority by blocking Evers’ actions related to the Department of Natural Resources.

But the court did not rule on the $50 million for DPI. Attorney General Josh Kaul has asked the high court to bypass the Appellate Court and rule on the matter.

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