You will have Baileys Harbor resident Kari Baumann to thank if Wisconsin legislators move on a bill looking to improve reading skills among the state’s youngest learners. Baumann testified in favor of Assembly Bill 446, which would replace the current assessment strategy with a three-tiered approach for students in 4K through second grade. The hope is by assessing literacy more often, they could prevent more kids from falling behind in their reading skills. While testifying, Baumann shared with the committee her own personal story of her son struggling with dyslexia. It took a reading program in Illinois and thousands of dollars in expenses to get him the help he needed and her son back on track.

Baumann says if this bill is approved, she believes Wisconsin could follow in the same footsteps of Mississippi, which saw dramatic improvements in their reading scores after making a similar change.

Some groups including the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction say the change would be an unfunded mandate, something Baumann says is not true.

She could testify again on October 6th when she is tentatively scheduled to testify in front of the Senate Committee on Education.

PIcture courtesy of Kari Baumann