2014 Minnesota Statutes

120B.12 READING PROFICIENTLY NO LATER THAN THE END OF GRADE 3.

Subdivision 1.Literacy goal.

The legislature seeks to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of grade 3, including English learners, and that teachers provide comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction consistent with section 122A.06, subdivision 4.

Subd. 2.Identification; report.

For the 2011-2012 school year and later, each school district shall identify before the end of kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 students who are not reading at grade level before the end of the current school year. Reading assessments in English, and in the predominant languages of district students where practicable, must identify and evaluate students' areas of academic need related to literacy. The district also must monitor the progress and provide reading instruction appropriate to the specific needs of English learners. The district must use a locally adopted, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive assessment and annually report summary assessment results to the commissioner by July 1.

Subd. 2a.Parent notification and involvement.

Schools, at least annually, must give the parent of each student who is not reading at or above grade level timely information about:

(1) student's reading proficiency as measured by a locally adopted assessment;

(2) reading-related services currently being provided to the student; and

(3) strategies for parents to use at home in helping their student succeed in becoming grade-level proficient in reading in English and in their native language.

Subd. 3.Intervention.

For each student identified under subdivision 2, the district shall provide reading intervention to accelerate student growth and reach the goal of reading at or above grade level by the end of the current grade and school year. District intervention methods shall encourage family engagement and, where possible, collaboration with appropriate school and community programs. Intervention methods may include, but are not limited to, requiring attendance in summer school, intensified reading instruction that may require that the student be removed from the regular classroom for part of the school day, extended-day programs, or programs that strengthen students' cultural connections.

Subd. 4.Staff development.

Each district shall use the data under subdivision 2 to identify the staff development needs so that:

(1) elementary teachers are able to implement comprehensive, scientifically based reading and oral language instruction in the five reading areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as defined in section 122A.06, subdivision 4, and other literacy-related areas including writing until the student achieves grade-level reading proficiency;

(2) elementary teachers have sufficient training to provide comprehensive, scientifically based reading and oral language instruction that meets students' developmental, linguistic, and literacy needs using the intervention methods or programs selected by the district for the identified students;

(3) licensed teachers employed by the district have regular opportunities to improve reading and writing instruction;

(4) licensed teachers recognize students' diverse needs in cross-cultural settings and are able to serve the oral language and linguistic needs of students who are English learners by maximizing strengths in their native languages in order to cultivate students' English language development, including oral academic language development, and build academic literacy; and

(5) licensed teachers are well trained in culturally responsive pedagogy that enables students to master content, develop skills to access content, and build relationships.

Subd. 4a.Local literacy plan.

Consistent with this section, a school district must adopt a local literacy plan to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of grade 3, including English learners. The plan must include a process to assess students' level of reading proficiency, notify and involve parents, intervene with students who are not reading at or above grade level, and identify and meet staff development needs. The district must post its literacy plan on the official school district Web site.

Subd. 5.Commissioner.

The commissioner shall recommend to districts multiple assessment tools to assist districts and teachers with identifying students under subdivision 2. The commissioner shall also make available examples of nationally recognized and research-based instructional methods or programs to districts to provide comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction and intervention under this section.

History:

1Sp2001 c 13 s 12; 2007 c 146 art 2 s 6; 1Sp2011 c 11 art 2 s 3; 2012 c 239 art 1 s 33; art 2 s 2; 2014 c 272 art 1 s 6