The Massachusetts’ law takes effect in 2027-28, but one former state education chief doesn’t expect meaningful performance data until three years later.
Dive Brief:
- Massachusetts became, in June, one of the latest states to pass science of reading legislation, codifying evidence-based practices, statewide literacy screening and teacher training requirements, and creating new accountability measures for student performance in grades K-3.
- While the state has long had a more “laissez-faire” philosophy toward curriculum and instruction, the law sets in motion expectations and benchmarks that will require “major ramping up” on the part of some districts, according to Paul Reville, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a former state secretary of education.
- Laura Davis, senior research scientist at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, theorized that Massachusetts has been a later adopter due to its high performance on national tests overall. But she noted that with national declines in reading scores over the past decade, momentum has picked up across the country and even globally to revamp curriculum, develop higher-quality instructional material and boost professional development.
Dive Insight:
“It seems like a good time, regardless of the state and its achievement profile, to join in and ensure the resources that support instruction are there to make sure students have access to early literacy,” Davis said.
The new law will require significant training on evidence-based phonics instruction that might be limited somewhat by union contracts, but “it’s not going to be enough to do a one-shot training,” Reville said. Districts and the state will also need to build out data systems to track results, such as fewer students requiring intensive remediation by the 3rd grade.
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Meanwhile Wisconsin DPI Literacy czar Kaylee Jackson:
Jackson believes Wisconsin will see impacts of Act 20 on test scores within six to eight years based on what she has observed in other states.
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2026-2027 Madison K-12 $pending continues to grow, fueled by a 9.7% (!) property tax increase. Total spending will be at least $706,000,000 for 25,003 students, or $28,236 per student.
May 2026 Madison School District Presentation: 7,095 adults for 25,003 students (3.52 students per adult!)
Early Literacy Screener Map.
Map: Foundations of Reading Results: 2015–2024
Where have all the students gone?
3,887 Madison 4 year old to third grade students scored lower than 75% of the students in the national comparison group.
Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average k-12 tax & $pending. This despite our long term, disastrous reading results. May, 2026: 7,095 Staff for 25,003 students; $pending > $26k per student!
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
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