Picture this: A parent receives their fourth grader’s Wisconsin Forward Exam results and discovers that their child is unable to read at grade level. This is not the child’s fault. The child’s lack of reading proficiency is a result of an education system that has moved away from evidence-based literacy methods.
Unfortunately, this scenario is the lived experience of families across Wisconsin.
According to 2024 data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 31% of Wisconsin fourth graders can read at grade level. For Black students, this number falls to 8%.
MMAC member Kids Win Wisconsin is on a mission to improve literacy outcomes for Wisconsin students through data transparency, community mobilization, strategic communication and meaningful reform. The vision is a Wisconsin where 95% of children learn to read well.
The organization got its start in 2025, following Founder and CEO Brittany Kinser’s run for Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“I felt that during my campaign it was all about the adults. Who’s talking about the kids? The kids are relying on us as adults to make the right decisions for them,” said Kinser.
With a decade of teaching experience at Chicago Public Schools, having founded a grades 6-12 math and science academy and holding leadership positions within various education-based organizations, Kinser is familiar with the barriers to student success.
“We went from teaching using the science of reading… to something called balanced literacy,” said Kinser.
When educators follow the science of reading, they use evidence-based methods like phonics to help students sound out and piece together words to form sentences. The result is stronger reading comprehension. Alternatively, balanced literacy follows the 3-cueing model. When using this model, students guess words based on visual cues, memory and syntax. As schools nationwide normalized the balanced literacy approach, it became clear that fewer students were meeting literacy proficiency benchmarks.
In July 2023, Wisconsin lawmakers signed ACT 20, requiring science-based reading instruction in schools and the exclusion of the 3-cueing method from recommended material and teacher preparation.
“It’s a good first step. However, it lacks accountability,” said Kinser.
To keep parents informed, Kids Win Wisconsin has made literacy performance data and teaching resources accessible. A tool on the organization’s website displays school literacy performance sourced from 2025 Forward Exam data. There are also links to helpful resources from Go Beyond Grades.
Kinser hopes that by connecting with Kids Win Wisconsin, parents are not only aware of their child’s reading proficiency but also empowered to help create change on the local and state levels.
The organization launched its Family Mobilizer Network – a network of parents, grandparents and ambassadors across the state who can equip communities with the necessary resources and information to ensure positive student outcomes.
“Parents have a ton of power, especially when they are informed and you have them all come together,” said Kinser.
This is also true of the business community. Kids Win Wisconsin encourages organizations to subscribe to its emails and to follow its social media accounts. These actions will help boost public awareness. Kinser also welcomes professionals who sit on school boards to reach out, as Kids Win Wisconsin will host a training on best practices in the near future.
Visit https://kidswin.org/ to learn more.
