Read Act amendment

SF 1502 amends Minnesota's Read Act to require public schools to use evidence-based reading instruction grounded in "science of reading" research, directly affecting K-3 students and educators statewide. The bill mandates schools adopt approved screeners for foundational reading skills, use specific evidence-based intervention models (approved by the Department of Education and CAREI), and provide professional development focused on structured literacy. It explicitly excludes the "three-cueing system" and requires the Department of Education to develop templates for local literacy plans and track implementation. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, with key deadlines for approving interventions and screeners by June 2025. The bill cancels existing appropriations while redirecting resources toward evidence-based literacy implementation.