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SF4045 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Read act amendment to provide for ongoing curriculum review

Related bill: HF3905

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • Update the Read Act to require ongoing curriculum review and give districts a path to request adding specific curricula or professional development programs to the approved list.

Main Provisions

  • Districts can request the department to add a specific curriculum or professional development program to the approved list.
  • The department must publish the reconsideration procedures on its website.
  • A request for review must show the curriculum meets Read Act requirements and includes evidence-based practices and structured literacy components.
  • The review uses the existing approval rubric but adds culturally responsive criteria set by the department.
  • Alternative curricula or intervention programs for students who cannot access sound-based approaches must be reviewed on the same cycle as traditional programs.
  • CAREI and the department must conduct a final curriculum review of previously submitted curricula by March 3, 2025 for curricula already available to districts at no cost.
  • After March 3, 2025, districts or curriculum publishers can again request adding a curriculum, but they must pay the department for the review.

Review Process and Timeline

  • The department must publish the reconsideration process.
  • Reviews must use the standard rubric plus culturally responsive criteria.
  • A final review for no-cost curricula is due by March 3, 2025.
  • After March 3, 2025, payment is required for new curriculum reviews.

Financial Provisions

  • For reviews after March 3, 2025, districts or curriculum publishers pay the department.
  • The fee cannot exceed actual review costs or $3,500, whichever is less.

Significance and Potential Impacts

  • Introduces an ongoing, formal loop to evaluate and add curricula beyond initial approval.
  • Requires inclusion of culturally responsive criteria in assessments.
  • Emphasizes evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and provides a pathway for alternatives for those unable to access sound-based methods.
  • Establishes cost-sharing for future curriculum reviews and sets a maximum fee.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Adds an ongoing, formal curriculum review process to the Read Act.
  • Incorporates culturally responsive criteria into curriculum reviews.
  • Extends review obligations to alternative, non-sound-based approaches on the same cycle as traditional curricula.
  • Creates a deadline-driven, final review of no-cost curricula and introduces a post-deadline fee-for-review model.

Relevant Terms - Read Act - evidence-based - structured literacy components - culturally responsive criteria - alternative curriculum - intervention programs - sound-based approaches - CAREI - department - districts - curriculum publishers - review rubric - final curriculum review - no cost curriculum - reconsideration procedure - fee cap - actual review costs - March 3, 2025

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 02, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
March 02, 2026SenateActionReferred toEducation Policy
March 12, 2026SenateActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds a request-for-review/reconsideration process for curricula to be added to the list.",
        "Requires the department to publish the reconsideration procedure on its website.",
        "Requires review to use the subdivision 1 rubric with culturally responsive criteria.",
        "Requires review of alternative curricula/intervention programs for those who cannot access sound-based approaches on the same review cycle as traditional programs.",
        "Requires CAREI and the department to conduct a final curriculum review by March 3, 2025.",
        "After March 3, 2025, allows districts or curriculum publishers to request addition of a specific curriculum.",
        "Imposes a review fee payable by the district or curriculum publisher.",
        "Sets the fee cap at actual review costs or $3,500, whichever is less."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 120B.124, subdivision 2, to implement an ongoing curriculum review under the Read Act, including a district-initiated request-for-review process, a department rubric with culturally responsive criteria, and requirements for reviewing alternative programs; sets timelines (final review by March 3, 2025; post-March 3, 2025 ability for districts/publishers to request additions), along with a cost-shared review fee payable by districts or publishers not exceeding actual costs or $3,500, whichever is less; involves CAREI in the review; and requires publication of the reconsideration procedure on the department's website.",
      "modified": [
        "Modifies the Read Act curriculum review by requiring the use of the subdivision 1 rubric with the addition of culturally responsive criteria and by confirming the inclusion of evidence-based and structured literacy components.",
        "Adds a post-March 3, 2025 process for districts or publishers to request addition of curricula and requires a department/publisher-fee-based review.",
        "Requires the department and CAREI to conduct a final curriculum review by March 3, 2025.",
        "Extends review requirements to alternative curricula and intervention programs for those who cannot access sound-based approaches on the same cycle as traditional programs.",
        "Introduces a cost cap for the curriculum review (actual costs or $3,500, whichever is less)."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "120B.124",
    "subdivision": "2"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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