AB601: Bill Text

LRB-3839/1

FFK:skw&kjf

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 601

November 15, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Kulp, Quinn, Wittke, Tusler, Mursau, Skowronski, Wichgers, Krug, Kerkman, Murphy and Dittrich, cosponsored by Senator Tiffany. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB601,1,2 An Act to create 115.28 (66) and 118.015 (4) (d) of the statutes; relating to: requiring an online dyslexia awareness training for school district employees.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction, in consultation with the International Dyslexia Association–Wisconsin Branch, Inc., to develop or adopt an online dyslexia awareness training. The training must cover the indicators of dyslexia and evidence-based interventions and adaptations for dyslexia. Additionally, if DPI develops the online dyslexia awareness training, the bill requires DPI to design the training so that it can be completed in no more than two hours.

Under the bill, in the 2020-21 school year, each school board must require each teacher, supervisor, administrator, professional staff member, and paraprofessional staff member in the school district to complete the online dyslexia awareness training. Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, the bill requires each school board to require each newly hired teacher, supervisor, administrator, professional staff member, and paraprofessional staff member to complete the online dyslexia training within six months of becoming an employee of the school district.

For further information see the state 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:

AB601,1 Section 1. 115.28 (66) of the statutes is created to read:

AB601,2,11 115.28 (66) Dyslexia awareness training. By July 1, 2020, in consultation with the International Dyslexia Association–Wisconsin Branch, Inc., develop or adopt an online training on the indicators of dyslexia and the evidence-based interventions and adaptations for dyslexia. If the state superintendent develops the online training, the state superintendent shall develop the online training in a manner that, in general, takes no more than 2 hours to complete and provides an individual with a certificate upon completion of the training. The state superintendent may not adopt an online training under this subsection unless the training provides an individual with a certificate upon completion of the training. The state superintendent may not charge a fee for the online training under this subsection.

AB601,2 Section 2. 118.015 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB601,2,18 118.015 (4) (d) Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, require each teacher, supervisor, administrator, and professional staff member who is required to hold a certificate, license, or permit to teach under s. 121.02 (1) (a) 1. and each paraprofessional staff member to complete the dyslexia awareness training developed or adopted by the department under s. 115.28 (66) within the first 6 months after beginning employment with the school district.

AB601,3 Section 3. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB601,2,25 (1) Dyslexia awareness training. In the 2020-21 school year, each school board shall require each teacher, supervisor, administrator, and professional staff member employed by the school district who is required to hold a certificate, license, or permit to teach under s. 121.02 (1) (a) 1. and each paraprofessional staff member to complete the dyslexia awareness training developed or adopted by the department under s. 115.28 (66).

AB601,4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

AB601,3,3 (1) The treatment of s. 118.015 (4) (d) first applies to an individual who begins employment with a school district on July 1, 2021.

AB601,3,4 (End)