MMSD board reviews umbrella promotion policy to meet Act 20 deadline, schedules vote for June

Madison Metropolitan School District staff presented a consolidated promotion policy (35.37) during a May 22 special Board of Education workshop, saying the district must adopt a third‑to‑fourth grade promotion policy under Wisconsin’s Act 20 ("Wisconsin Reads") by July 1, 2025 and is using that deadline as an opportunity to combine several promotion-related policies into one umbrella policy.

District instructional lead Cindy (staff member) told the board, "the first policy that we are bringing forth to the Board of Education for review and eventual approval is our policy related to promotion," and described changes meant to streamline promotion criteria across transition grades, update alignment to state assessments and make language gender‑inclusive.

Board member Petra (staff member) said the redrafted language "is coming directly from DPI itself," noting the district used the Department of Public Instruction model policy where possible and that the umbrella policy will group on‑track‑to‑graduation, fourth‑to‑fifth and eighth‑to‑ninth grade promotion language in one…