Home


On a Mission

The Wisconsin Reading Coalition is a grassroots movement of parents, educators, advocacy organizations, health professionals, and business leaders committed to bringing scientifically-based reading instruction and 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



Problems in Wisconsin Reading

Video: Reading Crisis in Wisconsin



Wisconsin 4th Grade NAEP Reading Results, 2011
Wisconsin’s performance on the reading portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is simply unacceptable and unnecessary. Click here for an analysis of the results.

-  Below Basic  -   Basic   -   Proficient   -   Advanced  -



All Students
• Only 7% of our students score at the advanced level.
• 66% of our students score BELOW proficient, 32% BELOW basic.


White Students
• Wisconsin white students score three points below their national average, with
26% BELOW basic.

Low Income Students
• 49% of students on free or reduced lunch score BELOW basic.




African-American Students

• Our African-American students have among the lowest scores in the nation, with 61% BELOW basic.


Students with Disabilities
• 75% of students with disabilities score BELOW basic, three grade levels behind their MA counterparts.


How Wisconsin Measures Up

• Our scores have been statistically unchanged for the past decade, while other states have steadily improved.



• Wisconsin's national ranking has dropped from 3rd to 25th. Current teaching methodologies stifle the growth of our most talented children, and seriously hinder academic and life success for minority children and those with disadvantaged backgrounds or learning disabilities.
Upcoming Events & Breaking News
Contact us with information on reading events in your community and we will post them here!

See the Events page for conferences

NEW: Public hearing on the Common Core State Standards: Wednesday, May 22, 10 AM, room 411 South of the State Capitol

NEW: 10% of Wisconsin kindergarten students need intervention in pre-reading skills, according to PALS-K screener results

NEW: Information about the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading exam is online:


NEW: ACLU files Right to Read lawsuit in Michigan

NEW:
Reading Recovery success rate in Madison schools is just 28%

Karen Schmidt is the new director of Project Success at UW-Oshkosh

2012 State Teacher Policy Yearbook is released by NCTQ; Read national and Wisconsin-specific reports. Wisconsin got points for the new teacher reading exam and the requirement for colleges to publish first-time passage rates for their students.

 Children of the Code has posted its latest video series, "Changing Trajectories"

Read a joint statement frpm WRC and WIBIDA on expansion of literacy screening in Wisconsin.

The UW System has agreed to release syllabi for core undergraduate education courses to the National Council for Teacher Quality. They will also pay approximately $10,000 to NCTQ in attorneys fees, damages, and costs. UW had claimed copyright protection in refusing to release the syllabi, and NCTQ sued under public records law in January, 2012.

Check out the Dyslexia Toolkit and the video What is Dyslexia? from the National Center for Learning Disabilities

Brain Imaging Study at Medical College of Wisconsin Seeks Participants

The Functional Imaging Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin is seeking children ages 8-17 to participate in a study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Both children with and without reading disabilities (dyslexia) are needed.

Full participation involves four visits. Families will receive a brief summary of their child's test results, a picture of their brain, a small stipend to cover travel and expenses, and a gift certificate for the child.

For more information, see the recruitment document and call 414-456-7623 or 414-456-7624. Please feel free to copy and distribute or post the posting advertisement.






Solutions

Whether high achievers, struggling readers, or average students, there is a better way for all children!

We must embrace the recommendations and examples of:

  • The Scientific Research

  • The Top-Performing States 

We can break through the stagnant performance that has dogged Wisconsin for over a decade, creating a brighter future for our children and our state.

Comments