Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends several statutes relating to reading instruction and parent choice in schools.

Highlights:

• Establishing an office of literacy, the Wisconsin Reading Center, with a director nominated by the state superintendent of public instruction (Sec. 2). 

• Requires the office to submit a yearly report to the joint committee on finances (Sec. 8). 

• Establishing a council on early literacy curricula who shall be appointed for 3 year terms (Sec. 4). 

• Requires that teacher preparatory programs need to demonstrate that they prepare teachers to teach reading and language arts using science base early reading instruction (Sec. 5). 

• Establishing a literacy coaching program to help underperforming schools by assigning them a literacy coach (Sec. 8).

• Requires each school district to employ a reading specialist certified by the department to develop a reading curriculum (Sec. 13).

• Establishes that 4 year old kindergarten students must be screened at least two times during the school year (Sec. 16); and

• Requires that each school must screen students from 5 year old kindergarten to 3rd grade three times a year and let their guardian know the results (Sec. 17); and 

• Specifies that if a student is indicated as at risk they must be given a diagnostic assessment (Sec. 17).

• Requires the school to make a personal plan for any student deemed at risk (Sec. 17).

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends several statutes relating to reading instruction and parent choice in schools.

Highlights:

• Establishing an office of literacy, the Wisconsin Reading Center, with a director nominated by the state superintendent of public instruction (Sec. 2). 

• Requires the office to submit a yearly report to the joint committee on finances (Sec. 8). 

• Establishing a council on early literacy curricula who shall be appointed for 3 year terms (Sec. 4). 

• Requires that teacher preparatory programs need to demonstrate that they prepare teachers to teach reading and language arts using science base early reading instruction (Sec. 5). 

• Establishing a literacy coaching program to help underperforming schools by assigning them a literacy coach (Sec. 8).

• Requires each school district to employ a reading specialist certified by the department to develop a reading curriculum (Sec. 13).

• Establishes that 4 year old kindergarten students must be screened at least two times during the school year (Sec. 16); and

• Requires that each school must screen students from 5 year old kindergarten to 3rd grade three times a year and let their guardian know the results (Sec. 17); and 

• Specifies that if a student is indicated as at risk they must be given a diagnostic assessment (Sec. 17).

• Requires the school to make a personal plan for any student deemed at risk (Sec. 17).

Full Bill Text