MN HF835

Establishes a 15-member Minnesota Reads task force appointed by the commissioner, including 2 elementary reading teachers, 2 adult basic education literacy teachers, 2 literacy researchers, 2 school administrators, 2 parents/guardians, 2 students, 2 business representatives, and 1 additional member from these categories.

Task force membership must reflect racial, cultural, linguistic, geographic, and economic diversity where possible, with first appointments made by August 15, 2019, and the first meeting convened by September 15, 2019.

Task force must advise the commissioner on literacy programs for prenatal through adult learners and develop strategies to increase grade 3 reading proficiency rates and adult literacy rates to 100 percent by 2025.

Task force must submit annual reports by February 15 to legislative committees with jurisdiction over K-12 education, containing assessments of state literacy programs and outcomes, plus legislative recommendations with draft legislation.

Appropriates unspecified amounts from the general fund to the Department of Education for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to support task force operations.