The News: WILL has unveiled a new policy report, “Closing Wisconsin’s Math Gap: A Call for Early Numeracy Reform,” sounding the alarm on declining math achievement and offering solutions to reverse the crisis. The report draws on lessons from seven states that have led the way in implementing serious, practical, and bipartisan numeracy reforms. These efforts build on early literacy reforms adopted by dozens of states around the nation, including Wisconsin.
The Quotes: WILL Policy Director, Kyle Koenen, stated, “Without strong math skills, Wisconsin’s students will struggle in school, at work, and in life. This report highlights practical and bipartisan success stories from seven states that acted, and now it’s time for Wisconsin to do the same. If we want our kids to succeed in school and our workforce to stay competitive, we must start building a stronger math foundation in the early grades.”
WILL Associate Counsel, Lauren Greuel, stated, “School districts don’t have to wait for the Legislature to act. Our model policy gives school boards a clear framework to identify struggling students, support teachers, and close early skill gaps before they grow.”
Rachel Ver Velde, Associate Vice President of Government Relations with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, stated, “The ability to do math is a core skill needed in Wisconsin’s workforce. Too often employers have workers unable to do basic math. This trend is forcing companies to provide tutoring and additional training to get employees up to speed. The viability of Wisconsin’s future workforce is threatened if we don’t act now. WMC supports identifying at-risk students and requiring schools to create a plan for these students to get back on track. These interventions will ensure that students are not at a significant disadvantage as they enter the workforce.”
Lindsey Henderson, ExcelinEd Policy Director, Mathematics, stated, “Wisconsin has a chance to lead the next wave of education reform by applying the same urgency and evidence-based approach to early math that transformed literacy outcomes across the country. Strong numeracy isn’t optional—it’s essential for student success, workforce readiness, and economic growth.”
The Problem: The United States is in the midst of a math crisis. National and international assessments reveal steep declines in performance. On the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), an international assessment of math and science, U.S. 4th- and 8th-grade math scores saw their largest declines since the test began. The latest Nation’s Report Card revealed that just 22 percent of America’s 12th graders are proficient in math, with overall performance falling to its lowest level since NAEP began tracking under the current framework in 2005.
While Wisconsin has historically scored well—ranking 2nd in 8th grade math on NAEP and 5th nationally on the 2022 PISA—the overall trend is moving in the wrong direction since the pandemic.
- Wisconsin’s PISA math score has dropped 12+ points since 2018.
- Average math achievement statewide remains a third of a grade level below pre-pandemic levels, with 83% of students attending districts still behind 2019 benchmarks.
- Wisconsin ranks only 16th in post-pandemic math recovery.
- Milwaukee Public Schools rank among the very lowest in the nation, ahead of only Detroit and Cleveland, and tied with Baltimore in 4th grade math. In practical terms, nearly 70% of Milwaukee 4th graders scored below basic on NAEP, signaling they lack even partial mastery of grade-level skills.
Without action, Wisconsin risks falling further behind, leaving students unprepared for higher education, good paying jobs and navigating daily life.
Solutions For the Classroom: At least 7 states since 2022 have enacted early numeracy laws to strengthen foundational math skills and the results speak for themselves. Alabama—the earliest adopter of early numeracy reforms—was the only state in the nation to experience post-pandemic gains in 4th grade math on the 2024 NAEP, demonstrating the potential impact of these reforms.
Wisconsin cannot afford to wait for math achievement to recover on its own. State leaders should prioritize advancing sound numeracy policy that incorporates the following evidence-supported elements:
- Early screening in kindergarten through 2nd grade to identify gaps before they grow.
- Targeted teacher training grounded in cognitive science.
- Flexible coaching models to support math instruction.
- Parent engagement through clear communication of results.
- Public transparency through regular reporting of school- and district-level math achievement.
Solutions for School Boards: Alongside this report, WILL introduced a model numeracy policy with a clear, evidence-based framework to monitor student progress, strengthen instruction, and close early skill gaps. School districts don’t have to wait for the state to act—they can be proactive in adopting these reforms now to give students the strong math foundation they need.
Why Numeracy Matters: Strong math skills are essential for success in today’s job market, with individuals who have strong numeracy earning more and accessing better job opportunities, especially in fast growing sectors of Wisconsin’s economy. Moreover, employers (according to a WMC Survey) already struggle to find workers with the quantitative skills needed for high-growth industries and too many students enter college unprepared for college-level coursework. Math proficiency is also a critical life skill that helps individuals make informed financial and personal decisions.
Read More:
- Numeracy Report, September 2025
- Model Policy, September 2025
Kyle Koenen
Policy Director
Lauren Greuel
Associate Counsel