MN HF1487

School districts and charter schools must develop local literacy plans to monitor reading proficiency for kindergarten through grade 3 students, identify struggling readers, and provide intensive scientifically-based reading instruction in five areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Beginning in 2014-2015, students must demonstrate grade-level reading proficiency by end of grade 3 to be promoted to grade 4, with limited exceptions for English language learners, students with disabilities, and those meeting specific alternative criteria.

Districts and charter schools must provide written notice to parents of struggling readers at the start of grade 3, including identification of reading deficiencies, current services, proposed interventions, retention policies, and parent strategies for supporting reading improvement.

Schools must provide retained students with expanded instructional time and intensive interventions including small group instruction, tutoring, progress monitoring, extended school day/week/year programs, and summer reading camps.

Schools must report annually to parents and the state department on student reading proficiency progress, promotion and retention data, number of students demonstrating proficiency on statewide assessments by grade, and changes to literacy policies, with state technical assistance available upon request.