Education Experts Release Report on the State of Minnesota’s Literacy Crisis

Sep 24, 2024

Minneapolis, MN—Minnesota’s literacy problem is well-documented, persistent, and at a crossroads. Despite recent investments, Minnesota’s students—particularly students of color—face significant barriers and are often left behind. In response, educators, advocates, elected officials, and policy professionals from across Minnesota came together with the support of the Hunt Institute to produce a report laying out the current crisis, the positive steps that have already been made, and the necessary, immediate actions we need to take to make meaningful change for students. 

“I am proud to be a member of the Path Forward Team, which examined policy solutions beyond our accomplishments over the past two years,” said Representative Mary Frances Clardy (53A). “Despite historically surpassing national averages, only half of Minnesota’s students are proficient in reading. These averages conceal deep racial and socioeconomic disparities, with students of color scoring over 25 percentage points lower than their white peers. We are making positive progress as a state, but we have a long way to go and this work is instrumental to moving us forward.”

The report breaks down the Read Act, a sweeping $90 million literacy bill passed in the 2023 legislative session. The policy aims to better align teaching in all corners of the state with evidence on how children in Minnesota learn to read. While this is a strong start toward improving literacy in the state, it will take a few years for all changes to be fully introduced, and there are still many loose ends and next steps for both policy and practice.

“After the first full year free from significant COVID-related school disruptions, we continue to struggle to bring students to where they need to be, underscoring the urgent need to attend to literacy instruction,” said Michael C. Rodriguez, Dean at the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Minnesota. “This report outlines many steps we can take to supplement the Read Act, other legislation, and state standards. Now is the time to prioritize teacher instruction that is aligned to the best evidence, adopt high-quality curricula, and adopt effective screening and monitoring systems to support students in real-time, including Minnesota’s Multi-tiered System of Supports (MnMTSS) grounded in the belief that every student deserves the best we have to offer.”

The report concludes with a comprehensive review of Minnesota’s literacy education strengths and challenges. It also evaluates state systems for teacher preparation and licensure, education funding, and more. Next, the Path Forward Team will work to bring in more community voices to further hone our recommendations, design effective policies, and work to implement best practices.

“While some schools and districts may shift their instructional practices sooner, others may not notice a change in their child’s reading instruction until the fall of 2026. That is far too long to sit on our hands,” said Josh Crosson executive director of EdAllies. “This report is a starting point for identifying immediate strategic priorities and we need to bring in more voices—specifically those of parents and members of the community—to do that. We’re excited to be a partner in this critical work and continue to work with the Path Forward Team to make positive changes for kids.”

Download and read the report at:  https://edalliesmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/A-Call-to-Action-on-Literacy-In-Minnesota.pdf

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If you would like more information or to speak with any of the Path Forward Team members please contact Matt Hager at mhager@edalliesmn.org or (218) 330-7447