Asked by the Cap Times this month about the school district’s progress on fulfilling the requirements, district officials said 703 teachers had enrolled in the training as of the 2025-26 school year. Out of those enrolled, about 524 educators — or 75% — had completed the training. The district said 25 teachers hadn’t started or enrolled yet.
More than 140 school administrators, including principals and reading specialists, had also enrolled in the training and 58 of them had completed it. All required administrators have started or completed the training, district officials said.
Act 20 required teachers to enroll in the training by July 1 this year, and it required administrators to complete it by the same date or within six months of being hired, according to the Department of Public Instruction. However, lawmakers did not include a mechanism in Act 20 to enforce the mandate.
The Department of Public Instruction encourages public schools and independent charters to track their progress.
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The list of unresponsive districts includes the Madison school district. Ian Folger, a spokesperson for the district, said Madison schools didn’t respond because the point of contact for DPI was on leave at the time of the department’s initial and follow-up outreach. He emphasized that training is being monitored internally.
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Did taxpayer funded Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Underly Juice Test Scores for Reelection?
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Only 31% of 4th graders in Wisconsin read at grade level, which is worse than Mississippi.
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Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average (now > $25,000 per student) K-12 tax & spending practices. This, despite long term, disastrous reading results.
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?