Wyoming schools would have checked reading and offered targeted help

School districts would check reading skills and provide help matched to students' needs. Checks would cover all kindergarten through third-grade students and fourth- and fifth-grade students who scored below proficiency on the previous year's statewide English language arts test. The most intensive help and an individual reading plan would require written consent from a parent or guardian. Without consent, students could receive classroom support. Extra help could not occur during regular literacy lessons. A special education or English learner plan addressing reading difficulties would satisfy the plan requirements. Intensive help with an individual plan would cover students from the middle of kindergarten through the end of fifth grade.

School districts would provide research-supported literacy lessons and extra help focused on specific reading skills. Regular lessons would cover kindergarten through fifth grade, including reading and spelling words, understanding language, and writing. Students identified as at risk through screening or further reading tests would receive help matched to the skills they need. The proposal would generally take effect July 1, 2026 and apply starting in 2026–2027. Lessons on speech sounds would cover kindergarten through third grade; fluent oral reading would cover first through fifth grade.

School districts would report reading results to the Wyoming Department of Education and submit school improvement plans when required. Reports would track whether 80% of kindergarten through third-grade students scored at low risk for reading difficulties. They would also include high-risk results through fifth grade and teaching resources used. A school would need an improvement plan if it missed the goal or showed no improvement toward it over the past three years. State rules would set procedures for corrective action against districts showing no improvement for three consecutive years after placement on a school improvement plan. Annual reports would be due June 30 starting in 2026. District improvement plans would be due November 15 starting in 2026.

School districts would require literacy training and specialist support. The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board would establish literacy credentials. The listed literacy credentials cover structured literacy, dyslexia, or reading. Districts would employ or consult at least one person with one of these credentials to support staff training. Kindergarten through fifth-grade instructors with the listed elementary, early childhood, or special education credentials would need at least 14 training hours yearly until they obtain a listed literacy credential. Employees teaching or supporting those grades, or holding a listed literacy credential, would need at least 3.5 training hours every three years. The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board would establish credentials for structured literacy and dyslexia specialists covering kindergarten through twelfth grade by school year 2027–2028.