SF 2540

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/14/2025 10:59 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; creating the Minnesota Young Readers Club program
for literacy support; appropriating money to implement the program and contract
for reading materials provided to eligible students; requiring a report; appropriating
money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.982] MINNESOTA YOUNG READERS CLUB PROGRAM FOR
LITERACY SUPPORT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Findings; purpose; program established. new text end

new text begin (a) The Minnesota legislature
finds that research demonstrates that access to diverse and engaging home libraries
significantly improves students' reading proficiency and engagement.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Minnesota Young Readers Club program is established to provide culturally
and linguistically appropriate books and literacy materials to prekindergarten through grade
5 students who are reading below grade level. The program supports early literacy
development by building home libraries in alignment with the Read Well by Third Grade
initiative and the Read Act.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Student eligibility criteria. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Young Readers Club program is
designed to improve reading proficiency and engagement for prekindergarten through grade
5 students identified as reading below grade level. A student is eligible to participate in the
program if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the student is enrolled in any grade from prekindergarten through grade 3 and is
identified through universal screening as not meeting grade-level literacy benchmarks;
new text end

new text begin (2) the student is enrolled in grade 4 or 5 and scored below proficiency in reading on
the most recent state reading assessment taken by the student; or
new text end

new text begin (3) the student is enrolled in any grade from prekindergarten through grade 5 and has
received a recommendation to participate in the program from a teacher, reading specialist,
or intervention team member.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Student participation and enrollment strategy. new text end

new text begin (a) The Minnesota Young
Readers Club program is available to all eligible students reading below grade level. The
Department of Education must encourage schools to implement the following strategies to
ensure that the program is effectively integrated as a supportive tool within existing literacy
interventions:
new text end

new text begin (1) a teacher may recommend and refer students and families to the Minnesota Young
Readers Club program as an additional resource to support at-home reading, alongside other
critical interventions;
new text end

new text begin (2) a counselor or reading specialist may include information about the program to
families during parent meetings or at other times, framing the Minnesota Young Readers
Club program as a supplementary tool for building a home library and enhancing literacy
support; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a student's school may include program enrollment information with progress reports
or literacy assessments, offering parents an opportunity to enroll their children in the program
for additional home-based literacy support.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Department of Education must collaborate with school organizations to ensure
that school literacy teams present the Minnesota Young Readers Club program as one of
several tools available to support literacy development for students reading below grade
level.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Book selection, promotion, and distribution partnership. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department
of Education must enter into a strategic partnership with a qualified organization experienced
in book selection, promotion, and distribution. This partnership must ensure that the books:
new text end

new text begin (1) align to reading levels;
new text end

new text begin (2) are selected to match the reading levels of striving readers, ensuring that students
receive materials that are accessible and engaging while promoting gradual literacy
improvement;
new text end

new text begin (3) reflect the cultural diversity of Minnesota's student population and are age-appropriate,
promoting both engagement and inclusivity; and
new text end

new text begin (4) are distributed in an efficient and timely manner, whether by direct mail or through
delivery at the student's school. Books must be delivered to the student at school or mailed
directly to a student's home at least once a month. The delivery method must minimize
delays and ensure consistency in delivery of the books to students.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Department of Education and its strategic partner must include in their plan
activities providing engagement, promotion, and outreach to eligible families to raise
awareness of the program, emphasizing the value of building a home library to support
literacy development.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Monthly book distribution and family support. new text end

new text begin Books and literacy materials
must be mailed directly to a student's home or delivered directly to a student at school at
least once per month throughout the school year. Each delivery of materials must consist
of at least one culturally relevant and age-appropriate book aligned to the reading levels of
the student. Family support materials must accompany each mailing and must offer guidance
on creating and utilizing home libraries effectively. To the extent practicable, the family
support materials must be culturally adapted and translated into the home languages of the
family and must include tips on shared reading practices and storytelling.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Family engagement and home literacy support. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Young
Readers Club program must emphasize culturally responsive family engagement and must
offer practical resources to support children's literacy through the use of home libraries.
Materials must be accessible and designed to reflect the cultural and linguistic backgrounds
of participating families. The Department of Education must ensure inclusivity and encourage
parents to integrate reading into daily routines in meaningful ways with a goal of fostering
a lasting love of reading and enhancing the home library experience.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Program evaluation metrics; reporting. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Education
must collect and analyze data on program participation, family engagement, and student
reading outcomes. The evaluation metrics must include at least the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) the frequency and quality of reading activities at home;
new text end

new text begin (2) the impact of culturally relevant books on student interest in reading;
new text end

new text begin (3) feedback from families and educators on the program's effectiveness;
new text end

new text begin (4) demographic information on the number of students and families served by the
program;
new text end

new text begin (5) data on family engagement and home library usage; and
new text end

new text begin (6) the reported impact on literacy development.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Department of Education must prepare and submit an annual report to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over education
in accordance with section 3.195. The report must summarize the information required in
paragraph (a) and make recommendations for future improvements or expansion of the
Minnesota Young Readers Club program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Public-private partnerships and community engagement. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department
of Education may form strategic partnerships with private entities, local businesses, libraries,
and literacy organizations to support the Minnesota Young Readers Club program and
strengthen community and business alliances. The partner organization selected in subdivision
4 may assist in these efforts to ensure a cohesive approach to promoting literacy.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Department of Education and its program partner may work with schools to
promote and host community literacy events that celebrate literacy, engage families, and
promote cultural diversity.
new text end

new text begin (c) The Department of Education and its program partner may provide supplementary
resources and support to enrich the program and strengthen home literacy environments.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; READING SUPPORT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Young Readers Club program. new text end

new text begin (a) For the costs associated with
implementing the Minnesota Young Readers Club program:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2026 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2027 new text end

new text begin (b) The Department of Education may use the money for department activities related
to the Minnesota Young Readers Club program and may contract for services with qualifying
providers of literacy materials according to the requirements of section 1.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any balance in the first year does not cancel but is available in the second year.
new text end