Joint Education Committee advances K–12 language and literacy bill after hours of testimony and amendments

Cheyenne — The Joint Education Committee advanced a major rewrite of Wyoming’s reading law on Thursday, voting to sponsor 26 LSO 217 (working draft 0.7) after more than five hours of presentations and public testimony from educators, parents, advocates and district officials.

Sponsor Senator Mike Rothfuss summarized the bill as a comprehensive K–12 language and literacy program that would replace the existing K–3 reading statute. The draft directs every school district to adopt a district language and literacy program (DLLP); requires universal and dyslexia screeners and diagnostic assessments; mandates Individual Reading Plans (IRPs) for identified students with 30‑day implementation and parent collaboration; requires high‑quality instructional materials aligned with the state’s definition of the science of reading; establishes reporting and accountability requirements for districts; and creates a literacy division within the Department of Education.

“We worked hard to bring together a coalition of superintendents, a literacy cabinet, stakeholders, parent groups and the University of Wyoming,” Rothfuss told the committee while walking members through changes between drafts 0.6 and 0.7. He described technical…