Kids Win Policy Priorities
Our goal is for 95% of students to read proficiently so students can go to college, pursue a career or master a trade and have a bright future.
Kids Win Wisconsin advances evidence-based, nonpartisan education policies that improve literacy, strengthen accountability, prepare and support excellent educators, inform families, and help every Wisconsin student succeed.
Priority 1: Every child deserves evidence-based literacy instruction.
Ensure Evidence-Based Literacy Implementation – Build on Wisconsin’s early literacy reforms (Act 20) by providing schools with the resources, support, and accountability needed to implement evidence-based literacy instruction with fidelity and improve student reading outcomes.
Priority 2: Every family deserves honest, transparent information about student outcomes
Transform Teacher Preparation – Align Wisconsin’s Forward Exam proficiency levels and performance categories more closely with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and restore ACT and PreACT benchmark expectations that existed prior to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s 2024 changes.
Ensure Honest Reporting – Provide families with timely straightforward School District Report Cards that clearly communicate whether students are meeting grade-level expectations, making academic progress, and on track for future success.
Increase Transparency and Accountability – Publish annual school and district accountability scorecards that clearly report literacy outcomes and progress toward the 95% goal.
Priority 3: Every school should be held accountable for teaching students how to read well.
Establish a Statewide Literacy Goal – Set a statewide goal that 95% of Wisconsin students read proficiently.
Measure and Publicly Report Progress – Require the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to annually report the accountability scorecard by district and school-level including progress toward the 95% literacy goal using clear, transparent, and consistent measures that families and policymakers can easily understand.
Drive Continuous Improvement – Use accountability scorecards to recognize schools demonstrating exceptional literacy growth, replicate successful practices across Wisconsin, identify schools needing additional support, and create school improvement plans for schools in the bottom 25 percent.
Priority 4: Every child deserves the resources needed to succeed.
Modernize Wisconsin’s School Funding Formula – Ensure all publicly funded schools receive fair, predictable funding, with additional support for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and other students requiring additional services.
Significantly Increase Special Education Funding – Replace Wisconsin’s outdated special education reimbursement system with a predictable, student-centered funding model that provides schools with adequate resources to serve students with disabilities while reducing financial pressure on local districts.
Sustain Investments in Literacy – Maintain and expand investments in evidence-based literacy instruction including universal literacy screening, progress monitoring, intervention, high-quality instructional materials, educator coaching, and implementation support so every school can successfully implement the Science of Reading.
Guiding Principles
Our legislative priorities advance improving early literacy outcomes, strong accountability, honest information for families, preparing and supporting excellent educators, and student-centered funding.