HF3905 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Read Act amended to provide for ongoing curriculum review.
Related bill: SF4045
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- Update the Read Act to create an ongoing process for reviewing reading curricula and professional development programs used by Minnesota school districts.
- Ensure reviewed curricula include evidence-based methods and structured literacy components, and add culturally responsive criteria to the review.
- Provide options for alternative curricula and interventions for students who cannot access sound-based (phonics-based) approaches.
Main Provisions
- Districts can request the department to add a specific curriculum or professional development program to the list of approved options. The department must publish the reconsideration procedure on its website. A request must show the curriculum meets the Read Act’s evidence-based and structured literacy requirements.
- The review process uses the same rubric as the existing approval process, with the addition of culturally responsive criteria determined by the department.
- Alternative curricula and intervention programs for students who cannot access sound-based approaches must be reviewed on the same review cycle as traditional programs.
- The department and CAREI must conduct a final curriculum review of curricula that were previously submitted by March 3, 2025, to review curricula available to districts at no cost.
- After March 3, 2025, districts or curriculum publishers may request that the department add a specific curriculum to the list. The district or publisher must pay the department for the curriculum review. The fee cannot exceed actual review costs or $3,500, whichever is less.
Timeline and Costs
- March 3, 2025: Deadline for the department/CAREI to complete a final review of no-cost curricula currently available to districts.
- After March 3, 2025: New curriculum reviews require payment from districts or publishers; the fee is capped at actual costs or $3,500, whichever is less.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 120B.124 subdivision 2 to require an ongoing curriculum review process instead of the prior, possibly limited review framework.
- Requires publication of the reconsideration procedure and adds a formal path for districts to request additions to the approved list.
- Adds culturally responsive criteria to the curriculum review rubric.
- Establishes a separate review path (with cost) for curricula added after March 3, 2025.
- Introduces collaboration with CAREI for the final no-cost curriculum review by a specified deadline.
Impact Considerations
- Emphasizes evidence-based and structured literacy approaches across reviewed curricula.
- Seeks to ensure equitable access by including alternative, non-sound-based options and reviewing them on the same cycle as traditional programs.
- Introduces a cost-sharing model for future curriculum reviews, potentially affecting publishers and districts.
Relevant Terms - Read Act - evidence-based - structured literacy components - culturally responsive criteria - alternative curriculum - intervention programs - sound-based approaches - department - CAREI - district - curriculum publisher - rubric - review cycle - reconsideration procedure - March 3, 2025 - no-cost curricula - curriculum review costs - $3,500 cap - Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 120B.124 subdivision 2
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 02, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Education Policy | |
| March 05, 2026 | House | Action | Authors added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Allows districts or curriculum publishers to request that the department add a specific curriculum to the approved list.",
"Requires the department to publish the request-for-review procedure on its website.",
"Requires requests for review to demonstrate that the curriculum meets the Read Act's evidence-based and structured literacy components.",
"Requires the review process to use the existing rubric for approval in subdivision 1 with the addition of culturally responsive criteria.",
"Requires alternative curricula and intervention programs for those who cannot access sound-based approaches to be reviewed on the same cycle as traditional programs.",
"Requires a final curriculum review by March 3, 2025 of previously submitted curricula available at no cost.",
"After March 3, 2025, allows districts or publishers to request that the department add a specific curriculum to the list.",
"Establishes that the district or curriculum publisher must pay the department for the curriculum review.",
"Sets the fee for the review to not exceed actual costs or $3,500, whichever is less."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 120B.124, Subd. 2 (the Read Act), to implement an ongoing curriculum review process, adding options for districts to request updates to the approved curricula, integrating evidence-based and structured literacy requirements, introducing culturally responsive criteria, and adjusting the review workflow and costs.",
"modified": [
"Adds an ongoing curriculum review requirement to the Read Act (as part of Subd. 2).",
"Incorporates culturally responsive criteria into the department's review rubric.",
"Introduces deadlines and cost controls (March 3, 2025 milestone; cost cap of $3,500) for the curriculum review process."
]
},
"citation": "120B.124",
"subdivision": "Subd. 2"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee