The Wisconsin Reading Coalition is a grassroots movement of parents, educators, advocacy organizations, health professionals, and business leaders committed to bringing evidence-based reading instruction and timely intervention to all Wisconsin students.
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. ~ Mohandas Gandhi
NAEP Performance
Wisconsin’s performance on the reading portion of the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) continues to be simply unacceptable and unnecessary. The state as a whole and Milwaukee Public Schools are in urgent need of improvement. While our state average might be similar to the national average, virtually all of our subgroups perform below the national average for that subgroup - often by a large margin. It affects everyone: white, Black, Hispanic, Asian, students with disabilities, and students from low income homes. We need to do better across the board.
8% advanced (green)
23% proficient (yellow)
30% basic (red)
39% BELOW basic (black)
Click here for details on 2024 NAEP data, including subgroups
How Wisconsin Measures Up Nationally
Our scores have statistically decreased since 1992, while the nation and many other states have seen statistically significant increases. Between 1994 and 2024, Wisconsin's national ranking dropped from 3rd to 23rd. Current teaching methodologies in much of Wisconsin stifle the growth of our most talented children, and seriously hinder academic and life success for children of color and those with disadvantaged backgrounds or learning disabilities. Rather than recovering from the decline in scores due to the pandemic in 2022, NAEP results show Wisconsin has lost further ground in 2024, with declines being the greatest for the students who struggle most.
Wisconsin Reading Challenges
Breaking News
We're co-hosting Turning the Tide in Reading Instruction again in 2025! Save the date for October 3rd to learn from top national literacy researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders. We will be in-person at the Brookfield Conference Center with a live stream option available. Seize this opportunity to connect with fellow educators on a mission to provide effective literacy instruction!
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