1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; amending the Read Act; canceling appropriations; amending
1.3 Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 120B.118; 120B.119, subdivision 4, by adding
1.4 a subdivision; 120B.123, subdivision 7; 120B.124, subdivisions 1, 5, 6, by adding
1.5 a subdivision; 122A.091, subdivision 1; 122A.185, subdivision 1; Laws 2023,
1.6 chapter 55, article 3, section 11, subdivision 2; Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 3,
1.7 section 8, subdivisions 3, 5.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.118, is amended to read:
1.10 120B.118 TITLE; THE READ ACT.
1.11 Subdivision 1.Title.Sections 120B.118 to 120B.124 may be cited as the "Reading to
1.12Ensure Academic Development Act" or the "Read Act."
1.13 Subd. 2.Policy.It is the intent of the legislature that public schools promote foundational
1.14literacy and grade-level reading proficiency through the use of curricula, textbooks,
1.15instructional materials, instructional practices, interventions, and teacher development and
1.16training based solely on the science of reading.
1.17 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
1.18 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.119, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.19 Subd. 4.Evidence-based."Evidence-based" or "science of reading" means the instruction
1.20or item described is based on reliable, trustworthy, and valid evidence and has demonstrated
1.21a record of success in increasing students' reading competency in the areas of phonological
1.22and phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading
1.23comprehension science-based research. Evidence-based literacy instruction is explicit,
1Sec. 2.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1502NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: DUCKWORTH, Coleman, Rarick, Hoffman and Nelson)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/17/2025
Referred to Education Policy 2.1systematic, and includes phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics and decoding,
2.2spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension that can be differentiated
2.3to meet the needs of individual students. Evidence-based instruction does not include the
2.4three-cueing system, as defined in subdivision 16.
2.5 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
2.6 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.119, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.7to read:
2.8 Subd. 14a.Science-based reading research."Science-based reading research" means
2.9research that:
2.10 (1) applies rigorous, systematic, and objective observational or experimental procedures
2.11to obtain knowledge relevant to reading development, reading instruction, and reading and
2.12writing difficulties; and
2.13 (2) explains how proficient reading and writing develop, why some children have
2.14difficulties developing key literacy skills, and how schools can best assess and instruct early
2.15literacy, including the use of evidence-based literacy instruction practices to promote reading
2.16and writing achievement.
2.17 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
2.18 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.123, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
2.19 Subd. 7.Department of Education.(a) By July 1, 2023, the department must make
2.20available to districts a list of approved evidence-based screeners in accordance with section
2.21120B.12. A district must use an approved screener to assess students' mastery of foundational
2.22reading skills in accordance with section 120B.12.
2.23 (b) The Department of Education must partner with CAREI as required under section
2.24120B.124 to approve professional development programs, subject to final determination by
2.25the department. After the implementation partnership under section 120B.124 ends, the
2.26department must continue to regularly provide districts with information about professional
2.27development opportunities available throughout the state on reading instruction that is
2.28evidence-based.
2.29 (c) The department and CAREI must identify training required for a literacy lead and
2.30literacy specialist employed by a district or Minnesota service cooperatives.
2Sec. 4.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ 3.1 (d) The department must employ one or more literacy specialists to provide support to
3.2districts implementing the Read Act and coordinate duties assigned to the department under
3.3the Read Act. The literacy specialist must work on state efforts to improve literacy tracking
3.4and implementation.
3.5 (e) The department must develop a template for a local literacy plan in accordance with
3.6section 120B.12, subdivision 4a.
3.7 (f) The department must partner with CAREI as required under section 120B.124 to
3.8approve literacy intervention models by June 30, 2025, subject to final determination by
3.9the department. The department must make a list of the 15 approved evidence-based
3.10intervention models available to districts as they are approved by CAREI, starting November
3.111, 2025. Upon approval of the evidence-based intervention models, the department must
3.12ensure the models are reviewed by a contracted third party for culturally responsive guidance
3.13and materials, and make those findings available to districts once the review process is
3.14complete. The department must notify districts of the two-step review process for all materials
3.15approved under the Read Act for effectiveness as evidence-based structured literacy, and
3.16for cultural responsiveness. The department may identify additional literacy intervention
3.17models after the partnership with CAREI has ended.
3.18 (g) The department and CAREI must provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and support
3.19to certified trained facilitators.
3.20 (h) CAREI must complete all requirements under paragraphs (a) to (g) by June 30, 2025.
3.21Starting July 1, 2025, the department must complete any ongoing activities required under
3.22this subdivision without assistance from CAREI.
3.23 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
3.24 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.124, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.25 Subdivision 1.Resources.(a) The Department of Education must partner with CAREI
3.26for two years beginning July 1, 2023, until August June 30, 2025, to support implementation
3.27of the Read Act. The department and CAREI must jointly:
3.28 (1) identify at least five literacy curricula and supporting materials that are evidence-based
3.29or focused on structured literacy by January 1, 2024, and post a list of the curricula on the
3.30department website. The list must include curricula that use culturally and linguistically
3.31responsive materials that reflect diverse populations and curricula that reflect the experiences
3.32of students from diverse backgrounds, including multilingual learners, biliterate students,
3.33and students who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. A district that purchases an
3Sec. 5.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ 4.1approved curriculum before the cultural responsiveness review is completed is encouraged
4.2to work with the curriculum's publisher to obtain updated materials that are culturally and
4.3linguistically responsive and reflect diverse populations. A district is not required to use an
4.4approved curriculum;
4.5 (2) identify at least three professional development programs that focus on the five pillars
4.6of literacy and the components of structured literacy by August 15, 2023, subject to final
4.7approval by the department. The department must post a list of the programs on the
4.8department website. The programs may include a program offered by CAREI. The
4.9requirements of section 16C.08 do not apply to the selection of a provider under this section;
4.10 (3) identify evidence-based literacy intervention materials for students in kindergarten
4.11through grade 12;
4.12 (4) develop an evidence-based literacy lead training and coaching program that trains
4.13and supports literacy specialists throughout Minnesota to support schools' efforts in screening,
4.14measuring growth, monitoring progress, and implementing interventions in accordance with
4.15subdivision 1. Literacy lead training must include instruction on how to train
4.16paraprofessionals and volunteers that provide Tier 2 interventions on evidence-based literacy
4.17intervention;
4.18 (5) identify measures of foundational literacy skills and mastery that a district must
4.19report on a local literacy plan;
4.20 (6) provide guidance to districts about best practices in literacy instruction, and practices
4.21that are not evidence-based;
4.22 (7) develop MTSS model plans that districts may adopt to support efforts to screen,
4.23identify, intervene, and monitor the progress of students not reading at grade level;
4.24 (8) ensure that teacher professional development options and MTSS framework trainings
4.25are geographically equitable by supporting trainings through the regional service
4.26cooperatives;
4.27 (9) develop a coaching and mentorship program for certified trained facilitators based
4.28on the previously approved trainings; and
4.29 (10) identify at least 15 evidence-based literacy intervention models by November 1
4.30June 30, 2025, and post a list of the interventions on the department website. A district is
4.31not required to use an approved intervention model.
4Sec. 5.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ 5.1 (b) The department must contract with a third party to develop culturally and linguistically
5.2responsive supplemental materials and guidance for the approved literacy curricula to meet
5.3the culturally and linguistically responsive standards under paragraph (a), clause (1).
5.4 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
5.5 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.124, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
5.6 Subd. 5.Ongoing review of literacy materials.The department may partner with one
5.7or more institutions of higher education to conduct independent and objective reviews of
5.8curriculum and intervention materials. The department must determine whether it will
5.9partner with an institution of higher education to conduct ongoing reviews of literacy
5.10materials by June 1, 2026. A publisher may submit curriculum or intervention materials for
5.11review. The publisher is responsible for paying the cost of the review directly to the institution
5.12of higher education. The review must use the rubric used to approve curriculum under
5.13subdivision 1. The department and institution of higher education may approve the curriculum
5.14or intervention materials if they determine that the curriculum or intervention materials are
5.15evidence-based, and focused on structured literacy, culturally and linguistically responsive,
5.16and reflect diverse populations. The department must add the approved curriculum or
5.17intervention materials to the list of curricula and materials approved under the Read Act.
5.18 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
5.19 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.124, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
5.20 Subd. 6.Comprehensive review of literacy materials.Starting in 2033, the department
5.21and an institution of higher education may partner to conduct a comprehensive review of
5.22curriculum and intervention materials to identify literacy curriculum and, supporting
5.23materials, and intervention materials that are evidence-based, and focused on structured
5.24literacy, culturally and linguistically responsive, and reflect diverse populations. The
5.25department must revise the list of approved curriculum and supporting materials, and
5.26intervention materials based on the findings of the review.
5.27 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
5.28 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.124, is amended by adding a subdivision
5.29to read:
5.30 Subd. 7.Partnership expiration.The partnership between the department and CAREI
5.31expires June 30, 2025. Starting July 1, 2025, the department must complete any duties
5.32provided under this section without participation by CAREI.
5Sec. 8.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ 6.1 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
6.2 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.091, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
6.3 Subdivision 1.Teacher and administrator preparation and performance data;
6.4report.(a) The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the Board of
6.5School Administrators, in cooperation with board-approved teacher or administrator
6.6preparation programs, annually must collect and report summary data on teacher and
6.7administrator preparation and performance outcomes, consistent with this subdivision. The
6.8Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board and the Board of School Administrators
6.9annually by July 1 must update and post the reported summary preparation and performance
6.10data on teachers and administrators from the preceding school years on their respective
6.11websites.
6.12 (b) Publicly reported summary data on teacher preparation providers must include:
6.13 (1) summary data on teacher educator qualifications and their years of experience either
6.14as birth through grade 12 classroom teachers or school administrators;
6.15 (2) the current number and percentage of enrolled candidates who entered the program
6.16through a transfer pathway disaggregated by race, except when disaggregation would not
6.17yield statistically reliable results or would reveal personally identifiable information about
6.18an individual;
6.19 (3) the current number and percentage of program completers by program who received
6.20a Tier 3 or Tier 4 license disaggregated by race, except when disaggregation would not
6.21yield statistically reliable results or would reveal personally identifiable information about
6.22an individual;
6.23 (4) the current number and percentage of program completers who entered the program
6.24through a transfer pathway and received a Tier 3 or Tier 4 license disaggregated by race,
6.25except when disaggregation would not yield statistically reliable results or would reveal
6.26personally identifiable information about an individual;
6.27 (5) the current number and percentage of program completers who were hired to teach
6.28full time in their licensure field in a Minnesota district or school in the preceding year
6.29disaggregated by race, except when disaggregation would not yield statistically reliable
6.30results or would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual;
6.31 (6) the current number and percentage of program completers who entered the program
6.32through a transfer pathway and who were hired to teach full time in their licensure field in
6.33a Minnesota district or school in the preceding year disaggregated by race, except when
6Sec. 9.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ 7.1disaggregation would not yield statistically reliable results or would reveal personally
7.2identifiable information about an individual;
7.3 (7) board-adopted survey results measuring initial licensure program quality and structure
7.4in the preceding school year disaggregated by race, except when disaggregation would not
7.5yield statistically reliable results or would reveal personally identifiable information about
7.6an individual;
7.7 (8) board-adopted survey results from school principals or supervisors on initial licensure
7.8program quality and structure; and
7.9 (9) the number and percentage of program completers who met or exceeded the state
7.10threshold score on the a board-adopted teacher examination or performance assessment
7.11required under section 122A.185.
7.12Program reporting must be consistent with subdivision 2.
7.13 (c) Publicly reported summary data on administrator preparation programs approved by
7.14the Board of School Administrators must include:
7.15 (1) summary data on faculty qualifications, including at least the content areas of faculty
7.16undergraduate and graduate degrees and the years of experience either as kindergarten
7.17through grade 12 classroom teachers or school administrators;
7.18 (2) the average time program graduates in the preceding year needed to complete the
7.19program;
7.20 (3) the current number and percentage of students who graduated, received a standard
7.21Minnesota administrator license, and were employed as an administrator in a Minnesota
7.22school district or school in the preceding year disaggregated by race, except when
7.23disaggregation would not yield statistically reliable results or would reveal personally
7.24identifiable information about an individual;
7.25 (4) the number of credits by graduate program that students in the preceding school year
7.26needed to complete to graduate;
7.27 (5) survey results measuring student, graduate, and employer satisfaction with the
7.28program in the preceding school year disaggregated by race, except when disaggregation
7.29would not yield statistically reliable results or would reveal personally identifiable
7.30information about an individual; and
7.31 (6) information under subdivision 3, paragraphs (c) and (d).
7.32Program reporting must be consistent with section 122A.14, subdivision 10.
7Sec. 9.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ 8.1 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
8.2 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 122A.185, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.3 Subdivision 1.Tests.(a) The board must adopt rules requiring applicants for Tier 3 and
8.4Tier 4 licenses to pass an examination or performance assessment of general pedagogical
8.5knowledge and examinations or assessments of licensure field specific content. An applicant
8.6is exempt from the examination requirements if the applicant:
8.7 (1) completed a board-approved teacher preparation program;
8.8 (2) completed licensure via portfolio pursuant to section 122A.18, subdivision 10, and
8.9the portfolio has been recommended;
8.10 (3) obtained national board certification from the National Board for Professional
8.11Teaching Standards; or
8.12 (4) completed a state-approved teacher preparation program in another state and passed
8.13licensure examinations in that state, if applicable. The content examination requirement
8.14does not apply if no relevant content exam exists.
8.15 (b) The board must adopt rules requiring applicants for Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses in
8.16elementary education to pass an examination or performance assessment of knowledge,
8.17skill, and ability to teach the science of reading, as defined in section 120B.119.
8.18 (b) (c) All testing centers in the state must provide monthly opportunities for untimed
8.19content and pedagogy examinations. These opportunities must be advertised on the test
8.20registration website. The board must require the exam vendor to provide other equitable
8.21opportunities to pass exams, including: (1) waiving testing fees for test takers who qualify
8.22for federal grants; (2) providing free, multiple, full-length practice tests for each exam and
8.23free, comprehensive study guides on the test registration website; (3) making content and
8.24pedagogy exams available in languages other than English for teachers seeking licensure
8.25to teach in language immersion programs; and (4) providing free, detailed exam results
8.26analysis by test objective to assist applicants who do not pass an exam in identifying areas
8.27for improvement. Any applicant who has not passed a required exam after two attempts
8.28must be allowed to retake the exam, including new versions of the exam, without being
8.29charged an additional fee.
8.30 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.
8Sec. 10.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ 9.1 Sec. 11. Laws 2023, chapter 55, article 3, section 11, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
9.2 Subd. 2.CAREI.(a) To contract with the Center for Applied Research and Educational
9.3Improvement at the University of Minnesota for the Read Act implementation partnership
9.4under section 120B.124:
2024.....4,200,0009.5 $
2025.....09.6 $
9.7 (b) This appropriation is available until June 30, 2026 2025.
9.8 (c) The base for fiscal year 2026 and later is $0.
9.9 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
9.10 Sec. 12. Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 3, section 8, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
9.11 Subd. 3.Culturally responsive materials.(a) For the Department of Education to issue
9.12a request for proposals for a contract to develop supplemental culturally responsive materials
9.13for the approved evidence-based structured literacy curricula under Minnesota Statutes,
9.14section 120B.124, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1):
2025.....1,000,0009.15 $
9.16 (b) The contractor must review all approved instructional and intervention materials to
9.17ensure they are culturally responsive within 90 days of receiving the materials from the
9.18Department of Education. The contractor must work with publishers to ensure materials are
9.19culturally responsive and provide districts with supplementary materials and guidance as
9.20needed.
9.21 (c) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027 2025.
9.22 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
9.23 Sec. 13. Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 3, section 8, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
9.24 Subd. 5.CAREI paraprofessional and volunteer training.(a) For CAREI to develop
9.25training for paraprofessionals and volunteers that regularly provide Tier 2 literacy
9.26interventions to students in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.124,
9.27subdivision 4:
2025.....375,0009.28 $
9.29 (b) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027 2025.
9.30 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
9Sec. 13.
25-01797 as introduced02/07/25 REVISOR CR/VJ