Decoding Dyslexia: $90 million literacy legislation passes

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

After a decade of advocacy and small yet significant gains, a group of legislators along with a coalition of literacy advocates couldn’t be happier with the passage of The Read Act.

Authored by Rep. Heather Edelson and Sen. Erin Maye Quade, The Read Act will provide $90 million in funding over the next four years to lay the groundwork for school districts to improve literacy rates across Minnesota while also supporting teachers and school districts.

“For 10 years we have been working on initiatives that are central to improving student outcomes and ensuring equity and literacy across our state,” said Rachel Berger, founder of Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota (DDMN). “This is the final piece, because it changes literacy instruction in our state.”

The literacy legislation is an accomplishment led by DDMN and a coalition of like-minded people and organizations including the International Dyslexia Association–Upper Midwest Branch, The Reading

SEE THE READ ACT, PAGE 12

Dyslexia legislation in Minnesota

• In 2014, the state Legislature passes a tax credit for parents who had to step outside the school system to pay for private reading instruction for their students with dyslexia.

• In 2015, through grassroots advocacy and under the leadership of Sen. Roger Chamberlain, a definition for dyslexia is added to state statute, enabling educators, students and parents to freely use the term.

• In 2017, Sen. Chamberlain becomes a champion for Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota (DDMN), making its priorities his top priority. DDMN passes a bill to hire the first dyslexia specialist within the Minnesota Department of Education. The dyslexia specialist helps guide school districts and educators on identifying, accommodating and supporting students struggling with characteristics of dyslexia, or a diagnosis of dyslexia. Additional language is passed to identify K-12 students with reading difficulties and provide them alternate instruction that is multisensory, systematic, sequential, cumulative and explicit.

• In 2018, DDMN broadens its grassroots impact by forming a coalition with other like-minded organizations including Groves Academy, The Reading Center in Rochester, and The International Dyslexia Association-Upper Midwest Branch. DDMN continues to build relationships with community members and organizations including Education Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota School Boards Association and other interested groups to increase impact and support at the Legislature.

• In 2019, DDMN and its coalition pass two bills. One bill requires all higher-education institutions begin instructing their teacher-prep candidates on dyslexia. The other bill requires screening for K-2 students not reading at grade level, and students in grade 3 or higher who demonstrate a reading difficulty.

• In 2021, DDMN and its coalition pass a $3 million grant for teacher training. This enables the first cohort of 2,500 educators across the state to become trained in the science of reading.