DOA:......Kretschmann, BB0167 - Early Literacy Summer Reading Program
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
EDUCATION
Primary and secondary education
Early literacy summer reading programs
Current law requires DPI to establish a model policy for promoting third grade pupils to the fourth grade that includes various components, including a requirement to provide an intensive summer reading program to pupils who are promoted to the fourth grade, had a personal reading plan in the third grade, and did not complete the plan before being promoted to fourth grade. Current law specifies that the model policy must require that the intensive summer reading program be provided until a pupil scores at grade level in reading on a summative assessment. Current law also requires school boards, operators of independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to, by July 1, 2025, adopt a written policy for promoting third grade pupils to the fourth grade that includes the intensive summer reading program required to be in DPI’s model policy.
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires DPI to reimburse school boards and independent charter schools for providing intensive summer reading programs, as required under third grade promotion policies.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 115.448 of the statutes is created to read:
115.448 Early literacy; aid for intensive summer reading programs. (1) (a) “Eligible pupil” means a pupil who was promoted to 4th grade who had a personal reading plan under s. 118.016 (5) (a) 1. during the 3rd grade and who was not considered to have completed the personal reading plan under s. 118.016 (5) (d) at the time the pupil was promoted to 4th grade.
(b) “Required intensive summer reading program” means an intensive summer reading program that is required to be included in a promotion policy under s. 118.33 (6) (a) 3. or (b) 2m.
(2) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (1) (fc), the department shall in each school year reimburse school boards and charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) for the costs they incurred in the previous school year to provide required intensive summer reading programs to eligible pupils. School boards and charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall report to the department their costs that are eligible for reimbursement under this subsection.
(3) The department shall pay aid under this section by no later than November 15 of each school year.
(4) The department may promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.
(end)
