As stated in the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for English Language Arts, reading is a complex, interactive process that continues to be a primary means of acquiring and using information.
Society regards reading as essential to daily living.
Because reading is fundamental to the mastery of other school subjects, students at all levels must learn to understand what they read. They must know and use various strategies ways of unlocking the meaning of words and larger blocks of text to become successful readers. Students should be challenged to read literature and other materials that reflect and stimulate their interests and intellectual abilities. They should read a wide variety of materials, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and other written works that reveal the richness and diversity of our heritage, afford opportunities to acquire new information, refine perspectives, respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace, and provide for personal fulfillment. Reading is complex, requiring the integration of many skills.