School District of Westfield

You May Have Heard About Act 20: Here’s What It Means for The School District of Westfield You may have heard about Wisconsin’s Act 20, a new law aimed at improving how young students learn to read. This law is designed to ensure schools use teaching strategies and resources grounded in the science of reading—a proven, research-based approach to literacy. At its core, Act 20 is about giving kids the tools they need to become confident, successful readers. While the goals of Act 20 are exciting, the law also brings new requirements for schools, staff, students, and families. Here’s what you need to know about what this means for the district. What This Means for Teachers To comply with Act 20, the School District of Westfield is training all teachers in grades 4K-5, as well as teachers who work with students who struggle with reading, to ensure they are equipped to teach foundational skills and support students across grade levels. The law requires every 4K-3 teacher and administrator to complete 80 hours of teacher training in reading instruction by July 2025. This training will focus on equipping staff with strategies to meet Act 20’s rigorous standards. Additionally, Act 20 mandates that schools provide special interventions for every student who does not meet expected reading achievement goals. While legislation is still discussing retention practices, districts will also need to develop new retention policies to address the requirements. The district will also need to purchase unfunded new curricular resources aligned with science-based practices to ensure students have access to the best possible materials to support their learning. The state indicates which materials are approved for districts to utilize. What This Means for Students For students, Act 20 introduces a new state-provided reading readiness screener that will be used from 4K through third grade. This screener has to be administered three times per year and will help teachers identify each child’s strengths and areas for growth early on, so we can provide targeted support to help every student succeed. For students who need extra help, Act 20 formalizes how we track and report on their progress. Each identified child will require a personalized learning plan, and parents will need to attend meetings to support the learning. This is meant to ensure that no child slips through the cracks and that we can partner with families to support their learning. What This Means for Parents Parents will notice some changes, too. At the end of January parents of students in grade K-3 will receive detailed updates about their child’s reading progress, including the results of these new required assessments. If a child is identified as needing extra support, we’ll work with the parents to make sure they get the help they need. Additionally, the potential for new retention policies means there could be changes to how students advance to the next grade level. We are committed to keeping families informed and working collaboratively on any changes that may affect their child. Moving Forward Together While Act 20 brings exciting opportunities for improving literacy, it also comes with challenges. The cost of training staff and purchasing new materials is significant, and current school funding does not fully cover these expenses. While there is talk of possible grant funding, the amount we’ll receive and how we can apply for them remains unclear. Despite these hurdles, the School District of Westfield is committed to meeting the requirements of Act 20 because we believe in the importance of giving every child a strong start in reading. Together, as a district and community, we can support our teachers, students, and families through these changes. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the district office or visit our website. Thank you for your partnership as we work to build a brighter future for all of our students! Respectfully, The Administrative Team School District of Westfield

12 months ago, School District of Westfield

#Pioneers #PioneerNation

12 months ago, School District of Westfield

Regular School Board meeting on Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00pm in the District Board Room B121. #Pioneers

12 months ago, School District of Westfield

Congrats to our Boys Wrestling team on a great showing at Cadott yesterday! Three wrestlers finished top 2 while a handful of others were top 6! Team finished 6th place overall out of 17 teams!

12 months ago, School District of Westfield

We currently have some great job opportunities available in our district... Maintenance - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XqcFW2ITS_Ctm6aRMI9NgXYyntAwH1-B7Pl6GKxcvo8/edit?tab=t.0 Mechanic - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nb7uUF3oILGhohMMnvqrtM7YeWeOIRVS9eecUSrgAhw/edit?tab=t.0 #Pioneers

12 months ago, School District of Westfield