Recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) paints a grim picture of student performance in Wisconsin. Eighth-grade reading proficiency has dropped from 39% in 2017 to a mere 31% in 2024, marking one of the worst declines in the state’s history. Fourth-grade reading scores, similarly dismal, are at their lowest recorded level since 1992. Milwaukee has suffered a nearly 20-point drop in reading scores since 2017.

These statistics are especially damning for Governor Tony Evers, who has often touted himself as the “Education Governor.” As the former state superintendent, Evers pledged to improve student outcomes. However, during his tenure, proficiency in reading has consistently declined. Despite Wisconsin spending over $18,000 per student annually and receiving additional federal funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, student performance has only worsened.

Adding to the controversy, Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly recently lowered the standards of the Forward exam, artificially inflating proficiency rates to 52%, according to the Forward assessment. This deceptive measure fails to reflect the true state of education in Wisconsin.

Last year, Governor Evers signed a bipartisan literacy bill aimed at revamping reading instruction for kindergarten through third grade. The law shifts from a “balanced literacy” model to a phonics-based approach, emphasizing the “science of reading.” The initiative includes creating a literacy office, hiring reading coaches, and overhauling curricula. However, the $50 million earmarked for implementing the program remains in limbo due to a power struggle between Evers, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee.

Evers’ partial veto on an appropriations bill has complicated the funding process. Legislative Republicans, citing concerns over misuse of funds, withheld the money, prompting a lawsuit. Evers and DPI countered with claims that without the funds, the program cannot be implemented by the 2024-25 school year.

This impasse is emblematic of broader issues in Evers’ administration. While the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of DPI in a separate case, the reading bill funding remains unresolved. Legal experts note that the ruling supports DPI’s constitutional argument but does not definitively resolve the funding dispute.

As Wisconsin’s students return to classrooms, the question remains: Can the self-proclaimed “Education Governor” deliver the reforms necessary to reverse years of declining literacy? For now, the data speaks louder than the rhetoric, and Wisconsin’s children are paying the price.