WISCONSIN RAPIDS − Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools has been awarded the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Early Reading Project Grant, according to a community announcement.
The district is one of seven in Wisconsin to receive the grant, which will provide at least $80,000 over three years. The grant aims to support school systems in building sustainable structures for high-quality, evidence-based early literacy instruction, in line with Wisconsin Act 20.
The project is designed to enhance districtwide capacity for implementing consistent, research-based literacy practices across K-2 classrooms. According to the announcement, the grant will help WRPS adopt high-quality instructional materials, advance professional learning aligned with the science of reading and reinforce data-informed decision-making to guide instruction.
“This grant allows us to take a systems-level view of our early literacy work − to align our practices, resources and training in a way that strengthens what we already do well,” said Julie Kolarik, assistant director of pupil services. “We’re fortunate to have dedicated and talented educators across our district who are already doing incredible work to support young readers. This opportunity not only builds on that foundation and helps ensure that every student, in every school, benefits from consistent, research-based instruction within a sustainable system − it also provides the funding needed to make that work possible.”
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, four WRPS elementary schools − Grove, Mead, THINK and Woodside − will participate in the first phase of the project. Educators at these schools will engage in focused professional development and collaborative learning, supported by instructional coaching from DPI staff. The work will be guided by state-developed tools such as the Early Reading Practice Profile and the Active Implementation Framework. Other WRPS schools will have the opportunity to benefit from these practices and training in future phases.
The Early Reading Project aims to improve student outcomes by building a strong foundation in literacy. This includes increased proficiency in English Language Arts, accelerated growth for students with Individualized Education Programs and a reduction in special education referrals driven by preventable literacy-related challenges. By focusing on implementation fidelity and systemwide alignment with research-based practices, WRPS will be better equipped to meet the expectations of Act 20 and serve all students equitably and effectively.
“This work aligns deeply with our mission to provide the best education for every student,” said Superintendent Ronald Rasmussen. “It reinforces our belief that all students can learn and highlights the importance of systemwide coherence in delivering high-quality instruction. We’re honored to be part of this statewide effort and proud of our staff for their commitment to continuous improvement and student success.”
In addition to strengthening instructional practices, the grant will support family engagement strategies that help parents and caregivers understand how to support their child’s literacy development at home, further extending the impact of classroom learning.
For more information about the Early Reading Project Grant and Wisconsin’s statewide early literacy initiatives, visit dpi.wi.gov/sped/early-reading.
This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: $80K grant to help Wisconsin Rapids schools boost early literacy
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