MN HF69

School districts must assess reading skills of students in kindergarten through grade 3 at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year and use results to identify students not reading at grade level and recommend interventions.

Students identified as not reading at grade level by end of kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 must be screened for dyslexia characteristics; students in grade 3 or higher demonstrating reading difficulty must also be screened unless another reason for difficulty is identified.

Districts must provide intensive reading instruction and intervention to accelerate growth for identified students, with continuation of services until students reach grade-level proficiency; districts must develop personal learning plans for students unable to demonstrate grade-level proficiency by end of grade 3.

Commissioner of education must adopt a list of approved scientific research-based reading curricula for kindergarten through grade 3, with authority to reduce literacy incentive aid for districts not using approved curricula starting in 2021-2022 school year.

Districts must submit annual reports by September 1 detailing grade retention and promotion policies, student achievement data on reading and math assessments, retention rates by grade, and policy revisions; commissioner must compile and report statewide data to legislature.