Right to Read bill advances to senate
During last Wednesday’s Assembly floor session Representative James Edming (R-Glen Flora) was proud to back Assembly Bill 321 or the Right to Read Act, legislation aimed at improving reading proficiency in Wisconsin.
As of 2022, 67.4% of Wisconsin’s 4th graders failed to test at proficient or above in reading which is the lowest reported since 1998. In addition, Wisconsin has fallen to last in the country for black students and to 28th for Hispanic students for reading achievement.
“The ability to read is a skill essential to success,” said Rep. Edming. “Unfortunately, far too many Wisconsin students are not proficient at reading. We must do something to get our students back on track.”
AB 321 will do the following: · Creates an Office of Literacy at the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) · Provides funding to retrain teachers in the Science of Reading, which emphasizes the importance of phonics and science-based early reading instruction · Provides half the funding for 64 reading coaches across the state that will help teachers implement Science of Reading instruction.
·Creates a Council on Early Literacy that will review and recommend curricula · Requires DPI to report how many students are not reading at grade level in 3rd grade ·Requires schools to provide intensive reading intervention for students reading below grade level “This proposal is a big step towards addressing the reading crisis in our state,” said Rep. Edming. “I’m pleased to support this legislation and look forward to seeing the positive impact it has on Wisconsin’s students.”
“Over the past few months, we have had very productive conversations with legislators as we worked together on creating a reading package that puts the needs of our kids first. Today, we have reached an agreement on how to do that,” said State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly.
“By using evidence-based early reading strategies that include explicit and systematic phonics instruction, first and foremost, further training for our state’s educators to ensure they have the knowledge and resources needed to be successful in teaching early reading, keeping parents and caregivers continuously informed and consulted, and providing much-needed support for literacy to those schools that need it the most, we were able to get this important reading package over the finish line. We have a significant amount of work ahead of us to help change student outcomes, but this reading package is a big step in the right direction.”
AB 321 is supported by DPI and was approved by the Assembly with a bipartisan 67-27 vote. It now advances to the State Senate for their consideration.
