An eight-bill package of dyslexia legislation has recently been introduced by State Representative Bob Kulp (R-Stratford) and State Senators Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) and Kathleen Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls). One of the bills would require school employees to take a continuing education course on dyslexia awareness. No action has been taken on any of these bills at this time.
Grants for Teachers: Assembly Bill 595/Senate Bill 555 expands the Master Educator Grant program to provide grants to teachers who earn dyslexia-related certifications from the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, or the Center for Effective Reading Instruction or Academic Language Therapy Association.
Teacher Preparatory Program Requirements: Assembly Bill 594/Senate Bill 554 requires each teacher preparatory program located in Wisconsin to provide at least 6 credits of instruction in literacy theory, skills, and processes that align with the most recent Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading from the International Dyslexia Association to individuals in the program who intend to apply for a license to teach grades kindergarten to 5 or special education, a license as a reading teacher or a license as a reading specialist.
Screening Correctional Inmates for Dyslexia: Assembly Bill 602/Senate Bill 553 requires the Department of Corrections to test the reading ability of each prisoner and screen each prisoner for dyslexia within six months of confinement in prison.
Publishing Foundations of Reading Test Scores: Assembly Bill 603/Senate Bill 569 requires the Department of Public Instruction to annually publish Foundations of Reading test scores.
Programs to Identify and Address Pupils with Dyslexia in Public Schools: Assembly Bill 604/Senate Bill 571 requires Wisconsin school boards to develop or adopt programs to identify and address pupils with dyslexia.
Online Dyslexia Awareness Training for Licensed School District Employees: Assembly Bill 601/Senate Bill 552 requires all district staff to take an online dyslexia awareness training starting in the 2020-2021 school year. The training would be developed by the Department of Public Instruction and the International Dyslexia Association–Wisconsin Branch, Inc.
CESA Dyslexia Specialist: Assembly Bill 635/Senate Bill 579 requires each CESA to employ a dyslexia specialist who has at least 5 years of experience in screening, identifying, and treating dyslexia and related conditions.
Reading Readiness Assessments: Assembly Bill 632/ Senate Bill 578 requires school boards starting in the 2020-21 school year to assess students in 4 year-old kindergarten to second grade on literary fundaments. The assessment selected by the school district must include phonological and phonemic awareness, rapid automatized naming, letter-word reading and picture-naming vocabulary. It also requires schools to provide a voluntary questionnaire about reading difficulties in the student’s family history.
