Wisconsin 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 R cosponsors

AB 971 — Relating to: promotion of pupils from the third grade to the fourth grade based on passage of the standardized reading test; reading readiness assessments in public schools; grants to increase licensure of reading teachers; sunsetting the Achievement Gap Reduction program; programs to identify and address pupils with dyslexia; parental opt-out of pupils in grades kindergarten to three from statewide examinations; and making an appropriation. (FE)

Last action — Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

560 added · 17 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Assembly Bill 971 have removed provisions related to grants aimed at increasing the number of licensed reading teachers and the sunset of the Achievement Gap Reduction program. Additionally, the requirement for making an appropriation—a specific allocation of funds—has been taken out. These changes are significant because they streamline the bill's focus on promoting reading proficiency without the additional financial obligations or programs that were previously planned. This could mean a more direct approach to addressing reading challenges for students, especially those with dyslexia, without potentially complicating funding and administrative processes.

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- 2022 LEGISLATURE LRBa1273/1 KRP:amn ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 971 February 17, 2022 - Offered by RepresentatiITTKE.
- 2022 LEGISLATURE LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 February 8, 2022 - Introduced by Representative ITTKE.
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Education.
A N A CT to repeal 118.016 (1) (a) and 118.44 (6) (a);
to renumber 118.016 (1) (b);
to renumber and amend 118.016 (1) (c) and 118.016 (1r);
to amend 20.255 (2) (cu), 118.016 (2), 118.44 (3), 118.44 (5) (a), 118.44 (6) (bm) (intro.), 118.44 (6) (bm) 3., 118.60 (7) (e) and 119.23 (7) (e);
and to create 118.015 (4) (e), 118.016 (1b), 118.016 (1e) (title), 118.016 (1e) (d), 118.016 (1g) (title), 118.016 (1r) (title), 118.016 (1r) (b) and (c), 118.016 (3) and (4), 118.33 (7), 118.40 (2r) (b) 2.
m., 118.40 (2r) (d) 3., 118.40 (2x) (b) 2.
m., 118.40 (2x) (d) 3., 118.44 (5) (c), 118.44 (6) (br) and (bw), 118.60 (2) (a) 10., 119.23 (2) (a) 10.
and 121.02 (1t) of the statutes;
relating to:
promotion of pupils from the third grade to the fourth grade based on passage of the standardized reading test;
reading readiness assessments in public schools;
grants to increase licensure of reading teachers;
sunsetting the Achievement Gap Reduction program;
programs to identify and - 2022 Legislature - 2 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 address pupils with dyslexia;
parental opt-out of pupils in grades kindergarten to three from statewide examinations;
and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill 1) limits the authority of certain schools to promote a pupil from the third grade to the fourth grade based on passage of the standardized reading assessment;
2) makes various changes to the current reading readiness assessment program for public school pupils enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten to second grade;
3) creates a grant program for the 2023-24 school year to increase licensure of reading teachers;
4) sunsets the Achievement Gap Reduction program;
5) requires certain schools to develop or adopt programs to identify and address pupils with dyslexia;
and 6) prohibits parents of pupils in grades kindergarten to three from excusing their pupils from taking standardized tests.
Promotion of pupils from the third grade to the fourth grade Under current law, school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in parental choice programs must administer a standardized reading test to certain third grade pupils.
Under the bill, 1) a school board may not promote a third grade pupil enrolled in the school district, including a pupil enrolled in a charter school located in the school district, to the fourth grade unless the pupil scores proficient or higher on the test;
2) the operator of an independent charter school may not promote a third grade pupil attending the charter school to the fourth grade unless the pupil scores proficient or higher on the test;
and 3) the governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program may not promote a third grade pupil who is attending the private school under the parental choice program to the fourth grade unless the pupil scores proficient or higher on the test.
The bill also provides an exception to the third grade promotion prerequisite created in the bill.
Under the exception, the school board, operator, or governing body may promote a pupil if the pupil meets any of the good cause reasons specified in the bill and all of the following conditions are met:
Page 1, line 11:
The pupil's teacher submits documentation of the pupil's good cause reason to the principal or administrator of the pupil's school.
delete the material beginning with “grants" and ending with “Reduction program;" on line 12.
Page 2, line 1:
The principal or administrator of the pupil's school discusses the documentation with the teacher and the pupil's parent, determines that promoting the pupil is appropriate, and submits that recommendation to the school board, operator, or governing body.
after “dyslexia;" insert “and".
Page 2, line 2:
The pupil's parent agrees with the recommendation.
delete “;
and making an appropriation".
Page 5, line 1:
The school board, operator, or governing body reviews the recommendation and agrees that promoting the pupil is appropriate.
delete lines 1 to 11.
Assessments of reading readiness Under current law, school boards and operators of independent charter schools must annually assess pupils enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten to second grade for reading readiness using an assessment of literacy fundamentals selected by the school board or operator.
Under current law, if a reading readiness assessment LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 3 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 indicates that a pupil is at risk of reading difficulty, the school board or operator must provide interventions or remedial reading services to the pupil.
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The bill provides that, beginning in the 2023-24 school year, a school board or operator must, in addition to the assessment required under current law, annually assess, using a diagnostic assessment, a pupil enrolled in four-year-old kindergarten to second grade to whom any of the following applies:
1) the pupil's parent requests the diagnostic assessment;
2) an assessment administered under current law indicates that the pupil is at risk of reading difficulty;
or 3) the pupil has been identified as having characteristics of dyslexia.
The bill defines “diagnostic assessment” as a tool that includes 1) an assessment that evaluates a pupil's skill in the areas of phonemic awareness, decoding skills, rapid naming, alphabet knowledge, letter sound knowledge, oral vocabulary, phonological awareness, word recognition, spelling, vocabulary, listening comprehension, and, when developmentally appropriate for the pupil, oral reading fluency and reading comprehension;
and 2) an opportunity for a pupil's parent to complete a family history survey to provide additional information about learning difficulties in the pupil's family.
Under current law, school boards and operators must report the results of reading readiness assessments to pupils' parents.
The bill provides that, beginning in the 2023-24 school year, the pupil's teacher or the principal or administrator of the pupil's school must provide the parental notification.
In addition, if a pupil's assessment indicates that the pupil is at risk of reading difficulty, the teacher, principal, or administrator also must provide all of the following to the pupil's parent:
1.
A list of the interventions or remedial reading services that will be provided to the pupil.
2.
A form on which the parent may acknowledge receipt of the information and may indicate that the parent understands the information.
3.
A request that the parent sign the form and return the signed form to the sender.
The bill requires a school board or operator annually to report to the Department of Public Instruction the results of pupil assessments and the interventions and remedial reading services the school board or operator provided to pupils in the previous school year.
The bill also requires DPI annually to compile and submit that information to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature.
Grants to increase licensure of reading teachers The bill allows DPI to award grants in the 2023-24 school year, in amounts determined by DPI, to school boards to provide support and financial assistance to their licensed teachers for the purpose of obtaining additional licensure as reading teachers.
In awarding grants under the bill, DPI must give priority to school districts with high numbers of pupils whose scores on the most recent standardized third grade reading test were lower than proficient, as determined by DPI.
A school board that receives a grant under the bill must use the grant moneys to pay costs associated with its teachers obtaining licensure as reading teachers and must pay to a teacher who successfully obtains a reading teacher license a bonus payment of $1,000.
- 2022 Legislature - 4 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 The bill provides for the grants to be paid from moneys that become available as a result of the sunsetting of the Achievement Gap Reduction program (described below).
Sunset of Achievement Gap Reduction program The bill sunsets the Achievement Gap Reduction program by prohibiting DPI from entering into any new contracts, or renewing any existing contracts, with school boards on or after the effective date of the bill.
Under current law, the program is a categorical aid program that provides funding to a participating school for low-income pupils enrolled in certain grades if the school complies with a five-year contract entered into between DPI and the school board of the school district in which the school is located.
Currently, a contract may be renewed for one or more terms of five school years.
Under current law, DPI annually must pay to a school board under contract with DPI a per pupil amount determined by 1) subtracting $125,000 from the total amount appropriated for the program for the school year;
2) adding the total number of low-income pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten to three in all schools participating in the program;
and 3) dividing the difference calculated under item by the sum calculated under item 2.
That calculation results in the entire amount appropriated for the program being paid in each school year.
The bill changes the per pupil payment amount by fixing that amount at the per pupil amount calculated for the 2022-23 school year.
In other words, beginning in the 2023-24 school year, DPI pays a school board under contract with DPI a per pupil amount that is equal to the per pupil amount DPI paid in the 2022-23 school year.
The bill provides that, if the amount appropriated to DPI is insufficient to pay the full per pupil amount, DPI must prorate the payments among the school boards eligible for payment.
The bill provides that any grants DPI awards in the 2023-24 school year to increase licensure of reading teachers (described above) will be paid from the Achievement Gap Reduction program appropriation account.
Programs to identify and address pupils with dyslexia The bill requires a school board, the operator of an independent charter school, or the governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program to develop or adopt a program to identify and address pupils with dyslexia.
Parental opt-out of pupils from statewide examinations The bill prohibits a school board, the operator of an independent charter school, or the governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program from allowing the parent of a pupil in any grade from kindergarten to three to excuse the pupil from taking a standardized test.
LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 5 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 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.
20.255 (2) (cu) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.255 (2) (cu) Achievement gap reduction contracts and grants to increase licensure of reading teachers.
The amounts in the schedule for aid to school districts and the program evaluation under ss.
118.43 and 118.44 and for grants under 2021 Wisconsin Act ....
(this act), section 33.
SECTION 2.
20.255 (2) (cu) of the statutes, as affected by 2021 Wisconsin Act ....
(this act), is amended to read:
20.255 (2) (cu) Achievement gap reduction contracts and grants to increase licensure of reading teachers.
The amounts in the schedule for aid to school districts and the program evaluation under ss.
118.43 and 118.44 and for grants under 2021 Wisconsin Act ....
(this act), section 33.
SECTION 3.
118.015 (4) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
118.015 (4) (e) No later than one year after the effective date of this paragraph ....
[LRB inserts date], develop or adopt a program to identify and address pupils with dyslexia, as defined in s.
118.016 (1b) (b).
SECTION 4.
118.016 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 5.
118.016 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 118.016 (1e) (b).
SECTION 6.
118.016 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 118.016 (5) and amended to read:
118.016 (5) STATE AID.he department shall pay to the a school board or and the operator of a charter school under s.
118.40 (2r) or (2x), from the appropriation - 2022 Legislature - 6 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 S ECTION 6 under s.
20.255 (1) (f), the per pupil cost of the selected the school board or operator selects under sub.
(1e) (b) and the per pupil cost of a diagnostic assessment administered under sub.
(1e) (d).
If the appropriation under s.
20.255 (1) (f) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under this paragraph subsection, the state superintendent department shall prorate state aid payments among the school boards and operators of charter schools entitled to the aid.
S ECTION 7.
118.016 (1b) of the statutes is created to read:
118.016 (1b) D EFINITIONSIn this section:
(a) “Diagnostic assessment” means a tool that includes all of the following:
1.
An assessment that evaluates a pupil's skill in the areas of phonemic awareness, decoding skills, rapid naming, alphabet knowledge, letter sound knowledge, oral vocabulary, phonological awareness, word recognition, spelling, vocabulary, listening comprehension, and, when developmentally appropriate for the pupil, oral reading fluency and reading comprehension.
2.
An opportunity for a pupil's parent or guardian to complete a family history survey to provide additional information about learning difficulties in the pupil's family.
(b) “Dyslexia” means a specific learning disability that is all of the following:
1.
Neurobiological in origin.
2.
Characterized by difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities that typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language.
Consequences of these difficulties may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that may impede vocabulary growth and background knowledge.
LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 7 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc SECTION 7 ASSEMBLY BILL 971 3.
Often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities.
SECTION 8.
118.016 (1e) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
118.016 (1e) (titleUPIL ASSESSMENTS.
SECTION 9.
118.016 (1e) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
118.016 (1e) (d) Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, each school board and the operator of each charter school under s.
118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall, using a diagnostic assessment, annually assess each pupil enrolled in 4-year-old kindergarten to 2nd grade to whom any of the following applies:
1.
The pupil's parent or guardian requests the diagnostic assessment.
2.
An assessment administered under par.
(b) indicates that the pupil is at risk of reading difficulty.
3.
The pupil has been identified as having characteristics of dyslexia.
SECTION 10.
118.016 (1g) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
118.016 (1g) (titleSSESSMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
SECTION 11.
118.016 (1r) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
118.016 (1r) (titleARENTAL NOTIFICATIONS.
SECTION 12.
118.016 (1r) of the statutes is renumbered 118.016 (1r) (a) and amended to read:
118.016 (1r) (a) The school board or operator of the charter school Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, for each pupil assessed under sub.
(1e), the pupil's teacher or the principal or administrator of the pupil's school shall report the results of a the pupil's assessment under sub.
(1) to the pupil's parent or guardian.
SECTION 13.
118.016 (1r) (b) and (c) of the statutes are created to read:
118.016 (1r) (b) Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, if a pupil's assessment under sub.
(1e) indicates that the pupil is at risk of reading difficulty, the pupil's - 2022 Legislature - 8 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 SECTION 13 teacher or the principal or administrator of the pupil's school shall provide, together with the report under par.
(a), all of the following to the pupil's parent or guardian:
1.
A list of the interventions or remedial reading services that will be provided to the pupil under sub.
(2) and s.
121.02 (1) (c).
2.
A form on which the parent or guardian may acknowledge receipt of the information provided under subd.
1.
and may indicate that the parent or guardian understands the information.
3.
A request that the parent or guardian sign the form provided under subd.
2.
and return the signed form to the sender.
(c) A school board or the operator of a charter school under s.
118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall retain any signed forms returned under par.
(b) 3.
SECTION 14.
118.016 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.016 (2) NTERVENTIONS AND REMEDIAL READING SERVICES.The school board of the school district or operator of the charter school under s.
118.40 (2r) or (2x) which the a pupil is enrolled shall provide a pupil whose assessment under sub.
(1) (1e) indicates that he or she the pupil is at risk of reading difficulty with interventions or remedial reading services, as described under s.
121.02 (1) (c).
SECTION 15.
118.016 (3) and (4) of the statutes are created to read:
118.016 (3) EPORTING;
SCHOOL BOARDS AND OPERATORS.
No later than July 15, 2024, and each July 15 thereafter, each school board and the operator of each charter school under s.
118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall report to the department the results of pupil assessments administered under sub.
(1e) in the previous school year, the interventions and remedial reading services the school board or operator provided to pupils under sub.
(2) and s.
121.02 (1) (c) in the previous school year, and any other information required by the department for purposes of reporting under sub.
(4).
LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 9 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc SECTION 15 ASSEMBLY BILL 971 (4) R EPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE(a) No later than August 15, 2024, and each August 15 thereafter, the department shall compile the information the department receives under sub.
(3) and shall submit that information to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
13.172 (3).
(b) No later than the August 15 after the end of each school year from 2023-24 to 2026-27, the department shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
13.172 (3) that includes all of the following information:
1.
Pupil literacy proficiency rates.
2.
The names of assessments administered under sub.
(1e).
3.
The number of pupils who were identified as having characteristics of dyslexia as the result of an assessment administered under sub.
(1e).
4.
A description of the interventions and remedial reading services school boards and operators of charter schools under s.
118.40 (2r) and (2x) provided to pupils under sub.
(2) and s.
121.02 (1) (c) to improve pupil literacy proficiency.
S ECTION 16.
118.33 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
118.33 (7) (a) In this subsection, “good cause” means that any of the following applies to a pupil:
1.
The pupil is a limited-English proficient pupil, as defined in s.
115.955 (7), who has had less than 2 school years of instruction in a program established under s.
115.96.
2.
The pupil is a child with a disability, as defined in s.
115.76 (5), whose individualized education program under s.
115.787 or services plan, as defined in 34 CFR 300.37, includes a statement that it is not appropriate to administer the standardized 3rd grade reading test to the pupil.
- 2022 Legislature - 10 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 S ECTION 16 3.
The pupil is a child with a disability, as defined in s.
115.76 (5), who takes the standardized 3rd grade reading test and to whom any of the following applies:
a.
The pupil has received at least 2 years of intensive reading intervention or remedial services and the pupil continues to demonstrate a deficiency in reading.
b.
On at least one occasion, the pupil was not promoted from kindergarten to 1st grade, from 1st grade to 2nd grade, from 2nd grade to 3rd grade, or from 3rd grade to 4th grade.
4.
The pupil demonstrates an acceptable level of reading proficiency on an alternative standardized assessment adopted or approved by the department.
Page 14, line 23:
All of the following apply to the pupil:
delete the material beginning with that line and ending with page 16, line 9.
a.
The pupil has received at least 2 years of intensive reading intervention or remedial services and the pupil continues to demonstrate a deficiency in reading.
b.
On at least 2 occasions, the pupil was not promoted from kindergarten to 1st grade, from 1st grade to 2nd grade, from 2nd grade to 3rd grade, or from 3rd grade to 4th grade.
Page 17, line 8:
The pupil's parent or guardian enrolls the pupil in an accredited or licensed reading program outside regular school hours.
delete the material beginning with that line and ending with page 18, line 14.
(b) 1.
7.
Except as provided in par.
Page 19, line 6:
(c), a school board may not promote a 3rd grade pupil enrolled in the school district, including a pupil enrolled in a charter school located in the school district, to the 4th grade unless the pupil scores proficient or higher on the standardized 3rd grade reading test administered under s.
delete lines 6 to 9.
121.02 (1) (r).
2.
Notwithstanding subd.
1., a school board may promote a 3rd grade pupil who does not meet the requirement under subd.
1.
to the 4th grade if the school board LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 11 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc SECTION 16 ASSEMBLY BILL 971 determines that good cause exists to exempt the pupil from the requirement and all of the following conditions are met:
a.
The pupil's teacher submits to the principal of the pupil's school documentation of the good cause reason that applies to the pupil, along with any other evidence that promoting the pupil is appropriate based on the pupil's academic performance.
b.
The principal of the pupil's school discusses the documentation submitted under subd.
2.
a.
with the pupil's teacher and the pupil's parent or guardian, determines that promoting the pupil is appropriate, and submits to the school board a written recommendation that the pupil be promoted.
c.
The pupil's parent or guardian agrees with the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
d.
The school board reviews the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
and agrees that promoting the pupil is appropriate.
(c) 1.
The operator of a charter school under s.
118.40 (2r) or (2x) may not promote a 3rd grade pupil to the 4th grade unless the pupil scores proficient or higher on the standardized 3rd grade reading test administered under s.
118.40 (2r) (d) 2.
or (2x) (d) 2.
2.
Notwithstanding subd.
1., the operator of a charter school under s.
118.40 (2r) or (2x) may promote a 3rd grade pupil who does not meet the requirement under subd.
1.
to the 4th grade if the operator determines that good cause exists to exempt the pupil from the requirement and all of the following conditions are met:
a.
The pupil's teacher submits to the principal of the pupil's school documentation of the good cause reason that applies to the pupil, along with any - 2022 Legislature - 12 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 SECTION 16 other evidence that promoting the pupil is appropriate based on the pupil's academic performance.
b.
The principal of the pupil's school discusses the documentation submitted under subd.
2.
a.
with the pupil's teacher and the pupil's parent or guardian, determines that promoting the pupil is appropriate, and submits to the operator a written recommendation that the pupil be promoted.
c.
The pupil's parent or guardian agrees with the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
d.
The operator reviews the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
and agrees that promoting the pupil is appropriate.
(d) 1.
The governing body of a private school participating in the program under s.
119.23 may not promote a 3rd grade pupil who is attending the private school under s.
119.23 to the 4th grade unless the pupil scores proficient or higher on the standardized 3rd grade reading test administered under s.
119.23 (7) (b) 1.
2.
Notwithstanding subd.
1., the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s.
119.23 may promote a 3rd grade pupil who is attending the private school under s.
119.23 and who does not meet the requirement under subd.
1.
to the 4th grade if the governing body determines that good cause exists to exempt the pupil from the requirement and all of the following conditions are met:
a.
The pupil's teacher submits to the principal or administrator of the pupil's school documentation of the good cause reason that applies to the pupil, along with any other evidence that promoting the pupil is appropriate based on the pupil's academic performance.
LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 13 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc SECTION 16 ASSEMBLY BILL 971 b.
The principal or administrator of the pupil's school discusses the documentation submitted under subd.
2.
a.
with the pupil's teacher and the pupil's parent or guardian, determines that promoting the pupil is appropriate, and submits to the governing body a written recommendation that the pupil be promoted.
c.
The pupil's parent or guardian agrees with the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
d.
The governing body reviews the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
and agrees that promoting the pupil is appropriate.
(e) 1.
The governing body of a private school participating in the program under s.
118.60 may not promote a 3rd grade pupil who is attending the private school under s.
118.60 to the 4th grade unless the pupil scores proficient or higher on the standardized 3rd grade reading test administered under s.
118.60 (7) (b) 1.
2.
Notwithstanding subd.
1., the governing body of a private school participating in the program under s.
118.60 may promote a 3rd grade pupil who is attending the private school under s.
118.60 and who does not meet the requirement under subd.
1.
to the 4th grade if the governing body determines that good cause exists to exempt the pupil from the requirement and all of the following conditions are met:
a.
The pupil's teacher submits to the principal or administrator of the pupil's school documentation of the good cause reason that applies to the pupil, along with any other evidence that promoting the pupil is appropriate based on the pupil's academic performance.
b.
The principal or administrator of the pupil's school discusses the documentation submitted under subd.
2.
a.
with the pupil's teacher and the pupil's - 2022 Legislature - 14 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 SECTION 16 parent or guardian, determines that promoting the pupil is appropriate, and submits to the governing body a written recommendation that the pupil be promoted.
c.
The pupil's parent or guardian agrees with the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
d.
The governing body reviews the recommendation submitted under subd.
2.
b.
and agrees that promoting the pupil is appropriate.
SECTION 17.
118.40 (2r) (b) 2.
m.
of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2r) (b) 2.
m.
A requirement that the charter school governing board develop or adopt a program to identify and address pupils with dyslexia, as defined in s.
118.016 (1b) (b).
SECTION 18.
118.40 (2r) (d) 3.
of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2r) (d) 3.
Ensure that the parents of pupils enrolled in charter schools under this subsection who are in grades kindergarten to 3 are not allowed to excuse those pupils from taking standardized tests.
SECTION 19.
118.40 (2x) (b) 2.
m.
of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2x) (b) 2.
m.
A requirement that the charter school governing board develop or adopt a program to identify and address pupils with dyslexia, as defined in s.
118.016 (1b) (b).
SECTION 20.
118.40 (2x) (d) 3.
of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2x) (d) 3.
Ensure that the parents of pupils enrolled in charter schools under this subsection who are in grades kindergarten to 3 are not allowed to excuse those pupils from taking standardized tests.
SECTION 21.
118.44 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.44 (3) ONTRACT.
The school board of an eligible school district may enter into a 5-year contract with the department on behalf of one or more schools in the LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 15 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc S ECTION 21 ASSEMBLY BILL 971 school district that are eligible under sub.
(2) (b).
No achievement gap reduction contract entered into under this section may include a waiver of any requirement of or rule promulgated under the authority of this section.
Beginning on the effective date of this subsection ....
[LRB inserts date], the department may not enter into any new contracts.
SECTION 22.
118.44 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.44 (5) (a) Except as provided in par.
pars.
(b) and (c), a contract under this section may be renewed for one or more terms of 5 school years.
No achievement gap reduction contract renewed under this section may include a waiver of any requirement of or rule promulgated under the authority of this section.
SECTION 23.
118.44 (5) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
118.44 (5) (c) Beginning on the effective date of this paragraph ....
[LRB inserts date], the department may not renew a contract under this section.
SECTION 24.
118.44 (6) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 25.
118.44 (6) (bm) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.44 (6) (bm) (intro.) From the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, from the appropriation under s.
20.255 (2) (cu), for each low-income pupil enrolled in a participating grade, the department shall pay to a school district that has entered into a contract with the department under this section an amount determined annually by the department as follows:
SECTION 26.
118.44 (6) (bm) 3.
of the statutes is amended to read:
118.44 (6) (bm) 3.
Divide the amount appropriated, as defined in s.
118.44 (6) (a), 2019 stats., by the sum of low-income pupils under subd.
2.
SECTION 27.
118.44 (6) (br) and (bw) of the statutes are created to read:
- 2022 Legislature - 16 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 SECTION 27 118.44 (6) (br) Subject to par.
(bw), beginning in the 2023-24 school year, from the appropriation under s.
20.255 (2) (cu), the department shall pay to a school district that has entered into a contract with the department under this section an amount for each low-income pupil enrolled in a participating grade that is equal to the per pupil amount the department paid in the 2022-23 school year.
(bw) If, after subtracting the amount allocated under sub.
(7) (a), the appropriation under s.
20.255 (2) (cu) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount under par.
(br), the department shall prorate the payments among the school districts entitled to receive the payments.
SECTION 28.
118.60 (2) (a) 10.
of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (2) (a) 10.
The private school develops or adopts a program to identify and address pupils with dyslexia, as defined in s.
118.016 (1b) (b).
SECTION 29.
118.60 (7) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.60 (7) (e) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall administer the examinations required under s.
118.30 (1t) or examinations permitted under s.
118.301 (3) to pupils attending the school under the program.
The private school may administer additional standardized tests to such pupils.
The private school may not allow parents of such pupils in any grade from kindergarten to 3 to excuse those pupils from taking a standardized test.
SECTION 30.
119.23 (2) (a) 10.
of the statutes is created to read:
119.23 (2) (a) 10.
The private school develops or adopts a program to identify and address pupils with dyslexia, as defined in s.
118.016 (1b) (b).
SECTION 31.
119.23 (7) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
119.23 (7) (e) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall administer the examinations required under s.
118.30 (1s) or LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 17 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc S ECTION 31 ASSEMBLY BILL 971 examinations permitted under s.
118.301 (3) to pupils attending the school under the program.
The private school may administer additional standardized tests to such pupils.
The private school may not allow parents of such pupils in any grade from kindergarten to 3 to excuse those pupils from taking a standardized test.
SECTION 32.
121.02 (1t) of the statutes is created to read:
121.02 (1t) A school board may not allow the parent of a pupil who is in any grade from kindergarten to 3 to excuse the pupil from taking a standardized test.
SECTION 33.0Nonstatutory provisions.
(1) GRANTS TO INCREASE LICENSURE OF READING TEACHERS.
(a) In this subsection, “eligible teacher” means a school district employee who holds a license, permit, or certificate to teach issued by the department of public instruction and who does not hold a reading teacher license, permit, or certificate.
(b) A school board may apply to the department of public instruction for a grant for the school district to provide support and financial assistance to its eligible teachers for the purpose of obtaining a license, permit, or certificate as a reading teacher.
(c) In the 2023-24 school year, from the appropriation under s.
20.255 (2) (cu), the department of public instruction may award grants under this subsection to school districts in amounts determined by the department.
(d) In awarding grants under this subsection, the department of public instruction shall give priority to applications submitted by school districts that have high numbers of pupils whose scores on the most recent standardized 3rd grade reading test were lower than proficient, as determined by the department.
(e) A school board that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant moneys to pay costs associated with eligible teachers obtaining licenses, - 2022 Legislature - 18 - LRB-4650/1 KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 971 SECTION 33 permits, or certificates as reading teachers and shall pay to an eligible teacher who successfully obtains a reading teacher license, permit, or certificate a bonus payment of $1,000.
The school board shall, no later than September 1, 2024, report to the department of public instruction the number of eligible teachers who obtained a reading teacher license, permit, or certificate using grant moneys under this subsection and an accounting of how grant moneys were spent.
(2) SUNSET OF ACHIEVEMENT GAP REDUCTION PROGRAM;
REPORT.
No later than 30 days after the effective date of this subsection, the department of public instruction shall report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
13.172 (3) an accounting of the moneys appropriated to the department under s.
20.255 (2) (cu) in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 fiscal years, including the amounts currently encumbered and unencumbered, an explanation of how the moneys have been and will be spent, and an estimate of the amount that will remain unencumbered at the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year.
S ECTION 34.0Initial applicability.
(1) NDEPENDENT CHARTER SCHOOLS.
The treatment of s.
118.40 (2r) (b) 2.
m.
and (2x) (b) 2.
m.
first applies to a contract that is entered into, renewed, or modified on the effective date of this subsection.
(2) PRIVATE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN A PARENTAL CHOICE PROGRAMThe treatment of ss.
118.60 (2) (a) 10.
and 119.23 (2) (a) 10.
first applies to an application to attend a private school under s.
118.60 or 119.23 in the 2023-24 school year.
S ECTION 35.Effective dates.
This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:
LRB-4650/1 - 2022 Legislature - 19 - KRP:wlj/ekg/cdc S ECTION 35 ASSEMBLY BILL 971 (1) READING READINESS ASSESSMENTS;
PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.
The renumbering and amendment of s.
118.016 (1r) and the creation of s.
118.016 (1r) (title), (b), and (c) take effect on July 1, 2023.
(2) P ROMOTION OF PUPILS.
The treatment of s.
118.33 (7) takes effect on September 1, 2023.
(3) G RANTS TO INCREASE LICENSURE OF READING TEACHERS.
The treatment of s.
20.255 (2) (cu) (byECTION 2) takes effect on July 1, 2024.
(4) SUNSET OF ACHIEVEMENT GAP REDUCTION PROGRAM.
The treatment of s.
118.44 (6) (a) and (bm) 3.
takes effect on July 1, 2023.
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Action History

  1. Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Read first time and referred to committee on Education

  3. Received from Assembly

  4. Ordered immediately messaged

  5. Representative Steffen added as a coauthor

  6. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 60, Noes 32, Paired 2

  7. Rules suspended

  8. Ordered to a third reading

  9. Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  10. Read a second time

  11. Placed on calendar 2-22-2022 by Committee on Rules

  12. Referred to committee on Rules

  13. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 8, Noes 5

  14. Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 9, Noes 4

  15. Executive action taken

  16. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Wittke

  17. Public hearing held

  18. Fiscal estimate received

  19. Read first time and referred to Committee on Education

  20. Introduced by Representative Wittke

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 131 not signed on · 17 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (131)

131 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 131 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 60 Yea · 32 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 37100
Democrat 01600
Unaffiliated 231500
Total 603200
% of votes cast 65%35%0%0%
How each member voted (92)
Member Party Vote
BALDEH — Nay
BRANDTJEN — Yea
BROSTOFF — Nay
CABRAL-GUEVA — Yea
CONLEY — Nay
CONSIDINE — Nay
EDMING — Yea
GOYKE — Nay
HEBL — Nay
HINTZ — Nay
HORLACHER — Yea
KATSMA — Yea
KERKMAN — Yea
KUGLITSCH — Yea
LOUDENBECK — Yea
MACCO — Yea
MAGNAFICI — Yea
MILROY — Nay
MOORE OMOKUN — Nay
MYERS — Nay
OHNSTAD — Nay
OLDENBURG — Yea
PETRYK — Yea
PLUMER — Yea
POPE — Nay
RAMTHUN — Yea
RIEMER — Nay
ROZAR — Yea
SANFELIPPO — Yea
SCHRAA — Yea
SHELTON — Nay
SKOWRONSKI — Yea
STEINEKE — Yea
TAUCHEN — Yea
THIESFELDT — Yea
VORPAGEL — Yea
VRUWINK — Nay
SPEAKER — Yea
Anderson, Clinton Democrat Nay
Andraca, Deb Democrat Nay
Billings, Jill Democrat Nay
Doyle, Steve Democrat Nay
Drake, Dora Democrat Nay
Emerson, Jodi Democrat Nay
Haywood, Kalan Democrat Nay
Hesselbein, Dianne Democrat Nay
Hong, Francesca Democrat Nay
McGuire, Tip Democrat Nay
Neubauer, Greta Democrat Nay
Sinicki, Christine Democrat Nay
Snodgrass, Lee Democrat Nay
Spreitzer, Mark Democrat Nay
Subeck, Lisa Democrat Nay
Vining, Robyn Democrat Nay
Allen, Scott Republican Yea
Armstrong, David Republican Yea
August, Tyler Republican Yea
Behnke, Elijah Republican Yea
Born, Mark Republican Yea
Brooks, Robert Republican Yea
Callahan, Calvin Republican Yea
Dallman, Alex Republican Yea
Dittrich, Barbara Republican Yea
Duchow, Cindi Republican Yea
Gundrum, Rick Republican Yea
James, Jesse Republican Yea
Kitchens, Joel Republican Yea
Knodl, Daniel Republican Yea
Krug, Scott Republican Yea
Kurtz, Tony Republican Yea
Moses, Clint Republican Yea
Murphy, David Republican Yea
Mursau, Jeffrey Republican Yea
Neylon, Adam Republican Yea
Novak, Todd Republican Yea
Petersen, Kevin Republican Yea
Pronschinske, Treig Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Jessie Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Jessie Republican Nay
Snyder, Patrick Republican Yea
Sortwell, Shae Republican Yea
Spiros, John Republican Yea
Steffen, David Republican Yea
Summerfield, Rob Republican Yea
Swearingen, Rob Republican Yea
Tittl, Paul Republican Yea
Tranel, Travis Republican Yea
Tusler, Ron Republican Yea
VanderMeer, Nancy Republican Yea
Wichgers, Chuck Republican Yea
Wittke, Robert Republican Yea
Zimmerman, Shannon Republican Yea

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Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors AB 971?
AB 971 is sponsored by Wittke, Robert (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 971?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
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