Right to Read Act voted on in Assembly-6/21/2023

For Immediate Release                                                                           Contact: Representative Thomas. A Michalski                                                                    

June 21^th, 2023                                                                                                                                            (608)237-9113

Right to Read Act voted on in Assembly

Bill will help students learn to read

MADISON- Representative Tom Michalski (R-Brookfield) voted to pass the Right to Read Act along with Republican and Democrat colleagues in the Assembly.

Across Wisconsin, 64% of fourth-grade students are not proficient readers.  There’s a high impact for Wisconsin, as two-thirds of children who are unable to read by third grade end up in either jail or on welfare.  Among African American students, our state in dead last in reading achievement, and both Hispanic and white students have dropped significantly as well.  This bill is looking to fix these issues.

 “Thirty-one states had shifted to the Science of Reading approach in schools.  This bill will help provide fundamental reading skills to students”, Rep. Michalski stated.  “The Right to Read Act helps both students and teachers by providing support and resources”.

AB 321 will establish the Office of Literacy, which will oversee a literacy-coaching program.  The bill will help to boost those students who are struggling at a young age with reading and provide extra instruction along with profession development training tools for educations to help those who are in need.  This will effect kindergarten through third-grade.

The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.

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The 13^th Assembly District includes Brookfield, Elm Grove, and portions of The Town of Brookfield and Wauwatosa.