LRB-5441/1
FFK:emw
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 SENATE BILL 873
January 5, 2024 - Introduced by Senators BALLWEG, MARKLEIN, NASS, TAYLOR and
WANGGAARD, cosponsored by Representatives MELOTIK, BEHNKE, DITTRICH,
EDMING, GOEBEN, GUNDRUM, MOSES, MURPHY, MURSAU, MYERS, NEDWESKI,
O'CONNOR, PENTERMAN, SCHMIDT and VOS. Referred to Committee on
Education.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 115.28 (55p), 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m., 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m., 118.60
(2) (a) 10., 119.23 (2) (a) 10. and 121.02 (1) (k) 4. of the statutes; relating to:
incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts
standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to incorporate
cursive writing into the model academic standards for English language arts. The
bill also requires all school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools
participating in a parental choice program to include cursive writing in its respective
curriculum for the elementary grades. Specifically, each elementary school
curriculum must include the objective that pupils be able to write legibly in cursive
by the end of fifth grade.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 115.28 (55p) of the statutes is created to read:
1
2
3
4
5 - 2 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5441/1
FFK:emw
SECTION 1 SENATE BILL 873
115.28 (55p) ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS. Incorporate cursive writing
into the model academic standards for English language arts.
SECTION 2. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. If the contract is for the operation of a charter school that
includes the elementary grades, a requirement that the charter school's curriculum
include the academic objective in s. 121.02 (1) (k) 4.
SECTION 3. 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. If the contract is for the operation of a charter school that
includes the elementary grades, a requirement that the charter school's curriculum
include the academic objective in s. 121.02 (1) (k) 4.
SECTION 4. 118.60 (2) (a) 10. of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (2) (a) 10. If the private school operates elementary grades, the private
school includes in its curriculum the academic objective in s. 121.02 (1) (k) 4.
SECTION 5. 119.23 (2) (a) 10. of the statutes is created to read:
119.23 (2) (a) 10. If the private school operates elementary grades, the private
school includes in its curriculum the academic objective in s. 121.02 (1) (k) 4.
SECTION 6. 121.02 (1) (k) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
121.02 (1) (k) 4. By July 1, 2024, include in a language arts curriculum plan
under this paragraph the academic objective that pupils be able to write legibly in
cursive by the end of grade 5. This subdivision does not apply to union high school
districts.
SECTION 7.0Initial applicability.
(1) INDEPENDENT CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACTS. The treatment of s. 118.40 (2r) (b)
2. m. and (2x) (b) 2. m. first applies to a contract that is entered into, renewed, or
modified on the effective date of this subsection.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 - 3 -2023 - 2024 Legislature
LRB-5441/1
FFK:emw
SECTION 7
SENATE BILL 873
(2) PRIVATE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN A PARENTAL CHOICE PROGRAM. The treatment
of ss. 118.60 (2) (a) 10. and 119.23 (2) (a) 10. first applies to an application to attend
a private school under a parental choice program in the 2024-25 school year.
(END)
1
2
3
4