Evers signs bill aimed at improving literacy for kids across Wisconsin

By: CBS 58 Newsroom

Posted: Jul 19, 2023 3:41 PM CST

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Governer Evers signed Assembly Bill 321 Wednesday, July 19, aimed at improving literacy outcomes for kids statewide.

The bill, which was drafted in coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), makes several changes/updates to the instruction of literacy with an aim to improve reading and literacy outcomes for K - 12 students.

“We have to ensure our kids have the reading and literacy tools and skills to be successful both in and out of the classroom. This bill, modeled after initiatives that have been successful in other states and fine-tuned with significant changes throughout the legislative process, is a step in the right direction,” said Gov. Evers. “But at the end of the day, the bottom line for me is that reading curriculum is only one small part of the equation to ensuring our kids are prepared for success—we know that kids who are hungry, in crisis, or experiencing other challenges at home might have trouble focusing in class or on their studies, be distracted or disengaged at school, and have a hard time completing their coursework. So, if we want to improve outcomes for kids in our classrooms across the board, this bill is only one small part of the work we have to do—we must continue making meaningful investments in our kids and our schools, bolster our education workforce to help keep class sizes small, and expand access to mental health services and healthy meals in our schools so our kids can bring their full and best selves to our classrooms.”

2023 Wisconsin Act 20 (Bill 321) aims to:

Create an Office of Literacy to be known as the Wisconsin Reading Center at DPI.
Create the Council on Early Literacy Curricula.
Creates a literacy coaching program through the Office of Literacy which will assign 64 contracted literacy coaches to a variety of schools.
Creates grants to cover 50 percent of the costs of purchasing approved curriculum and materials.
Prohibits the use of instruction or materials that contain the "three-cueing" method.
Requires changes in how educators are prepared to teach reading.

This bill comes as nearly 70% of Wisconsin students failed to test proficient in reading assessments, according to the 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress.

Sixty-seven percent of fourth grade students failed the test at proficient or above in reading. Similarly, about 67.6% of eighth grade students were not proficient or above.