2023 ACT 20 Requirements

New early literacy assessments are required beginning in January of 2025 using the  aimswebPLUS Early Literacy Screener:

• Students in 4K will be screened in fall and spring
• Students in 5K-grade 3 will be screened in fall, winter and spring
• The fall assessment will occur within the first 45 days of school.  
• The spring assessment will occur prior to the last 45 days in the school year.
• The specific items assessed for each grade level can be found on the aimswebPlus and WI Act 20 Assessment Matrix

A diagnostic assessment must be used when a universal screening assessment indicates a student is at risk (below the 25 percentile).  This occurs no later than the second Friday of November for the fall assessment or within 10 days after the 2nd universal screening.  Diagnostic assessments must also be given with 20 days when a teacher or parent suspects a student has characteristics of dyslexia and submits a request.

Mauston Impementation

The School District of Mauston will aimswebPLUS to screen students as required.  Following the screening, we conduct the required diagnostic for students scoring below the 25 percentile using  the i-Ready Diagnostic and Early Literacy Tasks.

2023 ACT 20 Requirements

When a student is identified as at-risk on the aimswebPLUS screening and diagnostic assessment, a personal reading plan must be created that includes:

• The specific early literacy skill deficiencies
• Goals and benchmarks for the student's progress toward grade-level literacy skills
• A description of interventions and additional instructional services available and appropriate
• How progress will be monitored
• The science-based reading programming the teacher will use
• Strategies for the parent to support grade-level literacy skills, and any additional services available and appropriate

Local education agencies (public schools and independent charter schools) will give parents a copy of the personal reading plan and provide progress updates after 10 weeks.

Mauston Implementation

Mauston will create a Personal Reading Plan for qualifying students that includes all requirements of the law.  Families will have input into the plan creation through a family survey as required by ACT 20. 

All plans will be shared with families along with the progress their child is making toward achieving goals in the plan.

2023 ACT 20 Requirements

Each school district must adopt and implement their own policy for promoting students from third grade to fourth grade that includes reading achievement criteria. This policy must be adopted and implemented by July 1, 2025. School districts are already required to have a policy for promoting students from fourth grade to fifth grade and from eighth grade to ninth grade.

Mauston Implementation

The School District of Mauston works with Neola, a company that specializes in school policy, to implement this requirement.  When the school board adopts the new policy, it will be noted in our online policies.

We encourage all families to read with their children at home.  

If your child has a Personalized Reading Plan, it means they’re getting special support to help them grow in a specific reading skill. We invite you to reach out to their teacher to learn more about this focus area and find fun ways to build on it at home.

The teacher might share some reading passages or games with letters and words that they’re using in class. Practicing these at home can really help reinforce what your child is learning and strengthen their skills.

Regular, short practice sessions in a cozy reading spot can make this fun and effective!

ACT 20 Requirement

ACT 20 requires each school district to post an early literacy remediate plan that includes all of the following:

• Name of the diagnostic reading assessment the school district uses
• Description of the reading interventions the school district uses to address characteristics of dyslexia
• Description of how the school district monitors pupil progress during interventions including tools used and frequency
• Description of how the school district uses early literacy assessment results to evaluate early literacy instruction
• Description of the parent notification policy that complies with ACT 20.
• Link to Wisconsin's Informational Guidebook on Dyslexia and Related Conditions

Mauston Implementation

The Mauston Early Literacy Remediation Plan is underdevelopment and will be posted here by January 2025.

The School District of Mauston uses multiple tools to support students in learning to read.  As required by 2019 Wisconsin ACT 86, we are providing a link to the Dyslexia Guidebook on the Department of Public Instruction's website.