Today, State Representative Scott Allen (R – Waukesha) and State Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (R-Cameron) released LRB-0639, a proposed bill that relates to reading readiness assessments.
The bill builds on the work of 2011 Act 166, which required school boards and independent charter schools to annually assess the reading readiness of 4K through 2nd grade students. Any student identified as needing reading intervention would then be provided with additional help. That original act did not have any requirement for the assessment data to be shared with the Department of Public Instruction or the Legislature.
“Reading is the foundation for all other learning and the key to success,” said Rep. Allen. “The Legislature needs access to data in order to make effective policy and funding decisions for early reading intervention. This bill will give us the data we need.”
The bill requires all school boards and independent charter schools to report to the Department of Public Instruction the number of pupils at risk of reading difficulty by January 1st of each school year. The Department will then submit that information to the Legislature by April 1st of that same school year. The timing will allow for that data to be used in odd number years in the budgeting process.
“I would like to thank the staff from the Department of Public Instruction for their help in creating this bill,” said Rep. Allen. “Helping kids succeed in reading is a common value that we share.”
