The READ Act

Learning to read is an important milestone for all students. In Minnesota, the goal is to have every child reading at, or above, grade level. Also to support students who have disabilities or speak languages other than English who may need extra help reaching that goal.

Every school district must have a literacy plan in place to help reach these goals starting in Kindergarten.

• Kindergarten-3rd grade 
  Schools must screen every student screen them for dyslexia and for if they are making progress in basic reading skills. The school must screen these students 3 times a year to see if students are reading at grade level. The first screening should happen in the first 6 weeks of the school year. The second screening should happen in the last 6 weeks of the school year.
   
• Grades 4 or above 
  Schools must identify students that are reading below grade level and screen them for dyslexia. But a student in 4th grade or above can skip this screening if a parent and teacher both think that screening is not good for the student, but even if a parent chooses not to have the dyslexia screening, the school must continue to provide services to help the student improve their reading skills.

NOTE: A dyslexia screening by the school is not the same as a medical diagnosis of dyslexia. Parents should talk to their child’s health care providers about how to obtain a medical evaluation.

After each screening of a student who reads below grade level, schools must let parents or guardians know:

• The student’s reading level
• What reading services the school gives the student
• What the student’s progress is with those services
• Tips for what parents or guardians can do at home to help their child succeed in reading at their grade level. 

Yes! For students reading below grade level, schools must give them extra reading help until they read at grade level.

You can find tips to improve your child’s reading on the Minnesota Department of Education website.

A parent or  guardian can ask that an evaluation be done to see if their child has a disability affecting their learning.

Once they ask for an evaluation and give permission to the school to do one, the school district MUST do the evaluation within 60 days to see if the student qualifies for special education.

If the student does have a disability, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be made to help the student with their reading goals.

See our fact sheets The School is Not Helping My Child with Disabilities and Top 10 Tips for the Special Education Process and Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

What must the school do to make sure my child learns to read?

• Minn. Stat. sec. 120B.12, subd. 1 - READ Act goal and interventions: Literacy Goal
• Minn. Stat. sec. 120B.12, subd. 2 - READ Act goal and interventions: Identification, report
• Minn. Stat. sec. 120B.12, subd. 2 (c) - READ Act goal and interventions