Act 20 Requirements:

By July 1, 2025, all individuals employed as a 5K-grade 3 teacher or reading teacher will need to begin a reading training.

Here at MPSD:
All 5k-3 MPSD teachers will complete CESA 7 Summer Top Ten Training starting June 2025 and will be completed by July 2025. Administrators and Reading teachers participated in CESA 7 Administrator training and will have training completed by the end of the 2024-25  school year. 

Staff can be exempt from portions of the above training with proof of completion of an alternative approved program.

As outlined in Wisconsin Act 20, schools are required to provide science-based early literacy instruction in both universal and intervention settings. Instruction that is systematic and explicit consists of all the following:

• Phonological awareness
• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Background knowledge
• Oral language development
• Vocabulary
• Writing
• Comprehension
• Reading fluency

Act 20 does not require schools to change their curriculum. It does require schools to implement science-based early literacy instruction as defined in the statute and prohibits schools from using or implementing three-cueing instruction as defined in the statute.

Here at MPSD:
MPSD is currently reviewing curricular resources that will best meet ACT 20 requirements and our students' needs. 

MPSD uses the following Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention resources:

• SIPPS
• UFLI Foundations

Act 20 Requirements:

Students in 4K:
Students will be assessed twice during the school year using a fundamental skills screening assessment selected by DPI. The first assessment needs to be completed by the 45th school day and the second will be given no later than 45 days before the end of the school year.

Students 5K-3:

• Three universal screenings during the school year
• The first screening must be given before the 45th day of the school year, the second will occur mid-school year, and the third is to be given 45 days before the school year ends.
• Universal screening must include phonemic awareness, decoding, alphabet knowledge, letter-sound knowledge, oral vocabulary

Diagnostic assessments will be given to students who score 24th percentile or below on the universal screener. This must be given within 10 days after the universal screening was given. 

Here at MPSD:
Manitowoc Public School District is utilizing aimswebPlus, the early literacy assessment provided by the state.  The diagnostic tool that will be used for 4k-3 students who indicate they are at risk and fall at or below the 24th percentile is FastBridge.

Act 20 Requirement:
School districts are to provide parents and families with the results of the reading readiness screener no later than 15 days after the assessment is scored.

Here at MPSD:
Letters will go home to all 4k-3 students informing them of the screener and purpose of the screener. Please see the template here: Initial Family Communication Letter. 

Act 20 Requirements:
If students are identified as at-risk (below the 25th percentile) on a universal screening assessment or diagnostic assessment, a personal reading plan must be created and one that includes:

• Specific early literacy skill deficiencies
• Goals and benchmarks for the pupil's progress toward grade-level literacy skills
• How progress will be monitored, a description of interventions, and any additional instructional services  that will be provided
• The science-based reading programming the teacher will use
• Strategies for the parent to support grade-level literacy skills, and any additional services available

Here at MPSD:
MPSD will create a Personal Reading Plan for all qualifying students in Infinite Campus. This plan includes the required information as stated in the Wisconsin Act 20 law. All plans will be shared with families. 

Act 20 Requirements:
Schools must have a policy for promotion from 3rd to 4th grade, based on a DPI model policy, by July 1, 2025. This would go into effect September 1, 2027.

Here at MPSD:
Please see Manitowoc Public School District's Promotion Policy here.

An updated Promotion Policy will be linked after the full approval from the Board in the coming months.

Beginning in the school year 2024-25, Wisconsin public schools are required to develop an Early Literacy Remediation Plan for grades 5K-3 and publish it to the district school's website. Please click here to view the Manitowoc Public School District Remediation Plan.