A group of Wisconsin parents say the Department of Public Instruction is dragging its feet on implementing new curriculum that aims to improve children’s reading skills.
In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation known as Act 20. It required schools to shift away from “balanced literacy” curriculum to a phonics-based model known as “the science of reading” beginning this school year.
The law also prohibits the use of curriculum in kindergarten through third grade that uses three-cueing instruction, which means encouraging children to use clues like pictures to guess unfamiliar words.
Act 20 was championed by parents who are part of Decoding Dyslexia Wisconsin, who say using the science of reading approach helped their own children learn to read.
On Dec. 13, parents from Decoding Dyslexia, the Wisconsin Reading Coalition, WI Reads and the International Dyslexia Association’s Wisconsin branch sent a letter to DPI. It said they’re concerned with the implementation of Act 20, the failure to develop a plan for training future teachers with the Universities of Wisconsin, and the lowering of academic standards on statewide testing.