2012 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 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 must identify and evaluate students' areas of academic need related to literacy. The district must use a locally adopted 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 in helping their student succeed in becoming grade-level proficient in reading.

Subd. 3.Intervention.

For each student identified under subdivision 2, the district shall provide reading intervention to accelerate student growth in order to 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 parental involvement 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 or extended-day programs.

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 instruction in the five reading areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as defined in section 122A.06, subdivision 4, until the student achieves grade-level reading proficiency;

(2) elementary teachers have sufficient training to provide comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction 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 instruction; and

(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.

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. 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