Policy 6311 – District Reading Goals and Early Literacy Program

A critical overall objective for the District’s reading program—through the District’s educational programs, curricula, instructional methods, intervention strategies, and professional development activities—is to enable the District’s educators to provide effective instruction in reading and literacy for all students, including providing timely and appropriate learning assistance to any student who may be experiencing difficulty with reading and related literacy skills.

District Reading Goals

The District shall maintain reading goals for kindergarten to grade 12. Any changes to the District’s reading goals shall be approved by the Board.

  1. Upon a request made by the Board or at any other time that the District administrator determines that it would be beneficial or prudent for the District to revisit its existing goals, the district administrator shall propose specific amendments to the District’s reading goals for the Board’s consideration.
  2. In developing a proposal to maintain or modify specific District reading goals, the District administrator or a designee shall solicit input from the District Guiding Coalition and the District English language coordinators.
  3. Following approval by the Board, the District’s current reading goals shall be a component of the District’s annual evaluation of the reading curriculum and the District’s regular and ongoing assessment of reading-related needs across all instructional levels.

Annual Evaluation of the Reading Curriculum

The District administrator shall ensure that the District completes an annual evaluation of the District’s reading curriculum using a process that includes the direct involvement of the District English language arts coordinators.

  1. Ensure that a written executive summary of the results of the annual evaluation is prepared.
  2. Ensure that the executive summary is provided to the members of the School Board.

At the discretion of the District administrator or if scheduled as an agenda item by the Board president or upon a specific agenda decision made by the Board, the District administrator shall make appropriate arrangements for the Board to consider the results of the annual curriculum evaluation at a Board meeting.

State-Mandated Early Literacy Reading Readiness Assessments

The District administrator or a designee who is licensed either as a reading specialist or as an administrator with curricular and instructional responsibilities shall determine the annual dates (or date ranges) during which the District will administer the early reading screening assessments required by state law and establish procedures to facilitate and monitor the timely administration and scoring of the screening assessments and, as applicable, any state-mandated reading diagnostic assessments. All District-selected dates for the administration of reading readiness assessments must meet the timing parameters found in state law.

The references to state-mandated reading readiness assessments in this policy should not be interpreted to prohibit the use or administration of additional assessments, evaluations, or diagnostic resources that are intended to facilitate the District’s compliance with its obligations to identify, diagnose, provide interventions/services, and monitor the progress of students who are experiencing difficulty with reading.

Early Literacy Remediation Plan

The District will maintain a written, Board-approved Early Literacy Remediation Plan, which shall be developed under the oversight of the District administrator. The District administrator shall ensure that at least one licensed reading specialist or other licensed administrator who has direct professional training in the measurement of students’ reading skills and the diagnosis of reading difficulties is directly involved in formulating the substantive content of the plan, including any future substantive amendments. Board approval of substantive plan amendments is required.

LEGAL REF.:

  • Wisconsin Statutes
    • 118.015—Reading instruction, early literacy curricula and instructional materials, district reading goals, and annual reading curriculum evaluation
    • 118.016—Reading readiness assessments and interventions, mandatory early literacy remediation plan
    • 118.30(1g)(a)1—Board adoption of academic standards (including in reading)
    • 121.02(1)(c)—School district standards, remedial reading and interventions
    • 121.02(1)(k)—School district standards, curriculum plans
    • 121.02(1)(4)—School district standards, annual third grade standardized reading test

CROSS REFERENCE:

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS:

  • PI 8.01(2)(c)—School district standards, remedial reading and interventions
  • PI 8.01(2)(k)—Curriculum plan requirements for school districts

AFFIRMED: February 25, 2025