Two years ago, Wisconsin lawmakers overhauled reading instruction for the state’s youngest students. Now, state Republicans want to take on math. 

Assembly Republicans announced a comprehensive education agenda this month, which includes a plan to address consistently low math scores on state and national tests. 

The most recent national math test scores found only about one-third of 12th graders are ready for entry-level college math.

State Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, was one of the authors of the reading bill known as Act 20. He says he now wants to create similar legislation for math. 

During a press conference on Sept. 10, Kitchens said a bill will be introduced soon that will include math screeners to provide testing and individualized plans to help struggling students catch up. 

“This bill is not going to be the full solution to the problem, but I think it’s going to be a very good first step in addressing a very serious problem,” Kitchens said. 

Act 20 was a bipartisan effort, but implementation wasn’t easy and a fight over funding made its way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. 

Recognizing this, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative law firm that has become more involved in education issues over the last several years, has decided to take on math reform itself. 

WILL wants to help schools solve the math crisis

Lauren Greuel, an attorney at WILL who focuses on education, said school districts don’t have to wait for the state to act before implementing math reform. 

Since 2022, seven states have enacted early “numeracy” laws to strengthen foundational math skills. 

Alabama was the earliest adopter of math reform and was the only state on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress test to show post-pandemic gains in fourth grade math. 

WILL wants to help Wisconsin school districts do the same. 

“Our model policy gives school boards a clear framework to identify struggling students, support teachers and close early skill gaps before they grow,” Greuel said.

According to a new policy report, “Closing Wisconsin’s Math Gap: A Call for Early Numeracy Reform,” Wisconsin Law requires every school board to adopt academic standards for mathematics and other core subjects. 

But those standards are advisory only, the report points out. 

“This local control creates a powerful opportunity,” the report says. “School boards can (and should) act now to ensure all students build a strong foundation in early numeracy.” 

About five years ago, WILL launched its Restoring American Education Initiative, aimed at school boards, parents and teachers. 

The initiative offers legal advice on everything from prayer in school to cell phone policies to student pronouns. 

“Not all of these fit every district, but it gives them a jumping off point to come up with ideas,” Greuel said. “They are research-based on national and state law so if schools want to implement them as is, they could.” 

The math report is doing the same, Greuel said. 

Part of WILL’s mission focuses on challenges to education policy, including a focus on shifting public spending on education away from the public school district model to one that would “allow our education dollars to follow students wherever they choose to attend school.”

The group opposes public unions and federal programs that guide public education. It promotes classroom transparency and parental rights over curriculum decisions related to issues like critical race theory.

 Greuel said WILL wants to provide local school boards with evidence-based expectations for early math instruction, without waiting for the state educational agency or the Legislature.

“We’ve obviously seen a lot of political division as of late. But this is really an area where we can come together across party lines to improve education in our state and nationally for the future citizens of this country,”  Greuel said.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction spokesperson Chris Bucher said the state is aware of the Republican efforts to reform math, but the agency has not been consulted or invited to provide input.

“We are serious about improving academic outcomes, and that commitment begins with a clear understanding of what is happening in Wisconsin classrooms, not looking to other states for model legislation,” Bucher said.

Bucher added that educators are already working to implement Act 20 as well as the “growing list of top-down mandates from Madison.”

 “If we’re serious about student success, we must first listen to the professionals in our schools and make sure they have the time and support needed to make existing reforms work before adding new ones,” Bucher said.

He added that Wisconsin’s most recent national test scores show eighth graders have the third-highest proficiency score among all states and jurisdictions and fourth graders performed above the national average.