MADISON, WI - The Republican controlled Joint Finance Committee has refused to release $50 million in funding for 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, a bipartisan bill passed last session to help improve reading for Wisconsin kids.

Representative Hong released the following statement:

“Schools across our state, alongside the Department of Public Instruction, were promised critical resources by our legislature to help implement the literacy programs we required of them this past session. It is bizarre, and frankly unacceptable, that the very funds we allocated to support this initiative are now being withheld by Republicans who championed the bill.

Wisconsin kids deserve more than performative politics. They deserve a legislature that follows through on its promises to kids, educators, and communities. Our students are already working hard to catch up, especially in the wake of the pandemic. This obstruction only delays the support they need to succeed.”