AB321: Bill Text

AB321,,223 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., 9 members who have knowledge of or experience with science-based early literacy instruction, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (b), and literacy curricula for pupils in grades kindergarten to 3 appointed jointly by the state superintendent of public instruction, the speaker of the assembly, and the senate majority leader.

AB321,,224 2. If the state superintendent of public instruction, the speaker of the assembly, and the senate majority leader do not jointly appoint 9 members by 45 days after the effective date of this subdivision:

AB321,,225 a. Three members who have knowledge of or experience with science-based early literacy instruction, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (b), and literacy curricula for pupils in grades kindergarten to 3 appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

AB321,,226 b. Three members who have knowledge of or experience with science-based early literacy instruction, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (b), and literacy curricula for pupils in grades kindergarten to 3 appointed by the senate majority leader.

AB321,,227 c. Three members who have knowledge of or experience with science-based early literacy instruction, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (b), and literacy curricula for pupils in grades kindergarten to 3 appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction.

AB321,,228 3. If members are appointed under subd. 2., the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader, and the state superintendent of public instruction shall make their respective appointments by no later than 60 days after the effective date of this subdivision.

AB321,,229 (b) Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the length of terms specified for the members of the council on early literacy curricula under s. 15.377 (9) (a), 3 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms expiring on July 1, 2024; 3 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms expiring on July 1, 2025; and 3 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms expiring on July 1, 2026. At the expiration of an initial term, each of the appointing authorities under s. 15.377 (9) (a) 1., 2., and 3. shall appoint one member to the council.

AB321,,230 (c) Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year.

AB321,,231 1. The council on early literacy curricula shall submit to the department of public instruction recommendations for literacy curricula and instructional materials for grades kindergarten to 3 for use in the 2024-25 school year by no later than October 1, 2023. The council on early literacy curricula may recommend only literacy curricula and instructional materials that satisfy the criteria in s. 118.015 (1m) (a) 1. and 2.

AB321,,232 2. Notwithstanding s. 118.015 (1m) (b), as soon as practicable but by no later than November 1, 2023, the department of public instruction shall submit to the joint committee on finance proposed recommendations for literacy curricula and instructional materials for grades kindergarten to 3 for use in the 2024-25 school year.

AB321,,233 (2) Mandatory early reading instruction professional development.

AB321,,234 (a) Each school board and operator of a charter school shall ensure that, by July 1, 2025, or for an individual hired after January 1, 2025, but before July 1, 2025, by no later than 6 months after the individual’s date of hire, each individual who teaches a grade from kindergarten to 3 in the school district or charter school, each individual employed by the school board or charter school as a principal of a school that offers grades kindergarten to 3, and each individual employed by the school board or charter school as a reading specialist has received professional development training that is all of the following:

AB321,,235 1. Voyager Sopris Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training or another program endorsed by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction as an accredited independent teacher training program.

AB321,,236 2. Offered by the Leadership in Literacy Institute or a provider that meets all of the following requirements:

AB321,,237 a. The provider provides evidence of at least 5 years of experience conducting evidence-aligned, systematic, structured literacy trainings specifically for school principals, administrators, and literacy teams.

AB321,,238 b. The provider demonstrates that the training content is aligned with the National Reading Panel Report and subsequent updates of the research by the Institute of Education Sciences.

AB321,,239 c. The provider requires that training include a substantial focus and understanding on direct instruction.

AB321,,240 d. The provider delivers the training over at least 6 days during the 2023-24 or 2024-25 school year.

AB321,,241 e. The provider provides participants with activities to implement evidence-aligned systems and structures that effectuate change in the school or school district.

AB321,,242 f. The provider delivers training that allows for a minimum of 30 participants.

AB321,,243 (b) The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall ensure that, by July 1, 2025, any faculty or academic staff member of the University of Wisconsin System who teaches a course that includes curriculum in reading instruction designed for an individual who intends to apply for a license issued by the department of public instruction to teach a grade from kindergarten to 3, to be a principal, or to be a reading specialist has received the professional development training specified in par. (a) 1. and 2.

AB321,,244 (3) Model 3rd grade retention policy; rule making.

AB321,,245 (a) Notwithstanding s. 227.135 (2), the department of public instruction is not required to present the statement of scope of the rules required under s. 118.33 (5m) to the department of administration for review by the department of administration and approval by the governor.

AB321,,246 (b) Notwithstanding s. 227.185, the department of public instruction is not required to present the rules required under s. 118.33 (5m) in final draft form to the governor for approval.

AB321,,247 (c) Sections 227.137, 227.139, and 227.19 (5) (b) 3. do not apply to the rules required under s. 118.33 (5m).

AB321,,248 (d) The department of public instruction shall submit in proposed form the rules required under s. 118.33 (5m) to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15 (1) no later than the first day of the 7th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph.

AB321,28 Section 28. Initial applicability.

AB321,,250 (1) License to teach; literacy requirement. The treatment of s. 118.19 (12) first applies to an application for a license to teach under s. 118.19 received by the department on July 1, 2025.

AB321,,251 (2) School and school district report cards. The treatment of s. 115.385 (1) (e) first applies to the school district and school accountability report published in the 2024-25 school year.

AB321,29 Section 29. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB321,,253 (1) The repeal of ss. 15.374 (2) and 115.39 take effect on July 1, 2028.

AB321,,254 (2) The treatment of ss. 115.38 (1) (a), 118.016, 119.44 (2) (bm), and 121.02 (1) (c) 3. takes effect on July 1, 2024.

AB321,,255 (end)