118.016 Assessments of reading readiness.

(1)

(a) In the 2014–15 and 2015-16 school years, each school board and the operator of each charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall, using the appropriate, valid, and reliable assessment of literacy fundamentals selected by the department, annually assess each pupil enrolled in 4-year-old kindergarten to 2nd grade in the school district or in the charter school for reading readiness. The department shall ensure that the assessment evaluates whether a pupil possesses phonemic awareness and letter sound knowledge.

(b) Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, each school board and the operator of each charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall, using the appropriate, valid, and reliable assessment of literacy fundamentals selected by the school board or operator, annually assess each pupil enrolled in 4-year-old kindergarten to 2nd grade in the school district or in the charter school for reading readiness. The school board or operator shall ensure that the assessment evaluates whether a pupil possesses phonemic awareness and letter sound knowledge. A school board or operator may administer computer adaptive assessments.

(c) The department shall pay to the school board or operator, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (1) (f), the per pupil cost of the selected assessment. 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, the state superintendent shall prorate state aid payments among the school boards and operators of charter schools entitled to the aid.

(1g) If a pupil is enrolled in a special education program under subch. V of ch. 115, the school board or operator of the charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) shall comply with s. 115.77 (1m) (bg).

(1r) The school board or operator of the charter school shall report the results of a pupil's assessment under sub. (1) to the pupil's parent or guardian.

(2) The school board of the school district or operator of the charter school in which the pupil is enrolled shall provide a pupil whose assessment under sub. (1) indicates that he or she is at risk of reading difficulty with interventions or remedial reading services, as described under s. 121.02 (1) (c).

History: 2011 a. 166; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.