Wisconsin's Senate has approved a bipartisan bill aimed at transforming how reading is taught in the state's elementary schools. The legislation, now awaiting Governor Tony Evers' signature, emphasizes phonics-based instruction and regular student assessments to improve reading proficiency.

Developed by Republicans, the bill prioritizes the connection between sounds and letters (phonics) over rote memorization. It mandates more frequent testing to monitor student progress and provide targeted coaching. While the Department of Public Instruction initially opposed the bill due to a provision requiring low-performing third graders to repeat the grade, it ultimately supported the revised version after that requirement was removed. The DPI collaborated with Republican legislators on the final proposal.

The image depicts the Wisconsin State Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin, photographed on February 9, 2023. (Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The bill garnered bipartisan support in both legislative chambers, passing the Assembly last week and the Senate on Wednesday with three Democratic senators joining their Republican colleagues. This legislative effort mirrors a national trend towards phonics-based reading instruction, particularly in response to learning setbacks attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wisconsin's bill draws inspiration from Mississippi's literacy laws, often credited with significantly improving reading scores in that state over the past decade.