Governor Evers Won't Sign GOP Reading Bill, Despite Changes

Friday, June 16th, 2023 -- 10:00 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) Democrat Governor Tony Evers says he still won't sign a Republican-authored bill to revamp how students learn reading, despite changes.

Republicans last week introduced a measure to require that public schools use phonics-based reading lessons in elementary school. That bill was similar to one that Evers vetoed in the last session of the legislature because it was unfunded. This time, Republicans added funding but wanted to require schools to hold students back a grade if they can't pass reading exams.

That language was changed to simply have the students retake last year's reading classes again, but both Evers and the Department of Public Instruction don't want mandatory retentions based on exams.

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