Minnesota state legislators and members of the Minnesota Department of Education and Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) visited Groveland Elementary last week to see the READ Act in action and to observe how Minnetonka Public Schools is advancing literacy instruction across grade levels.

State Senator Steve Cwodzinski and State Senator Mary Kunesh—chairs of the Minnesota Senate Education Policy Committee and Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee, respectively—and members of their committees’ staffs joined Bobbie Burnham, Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Education; Julie Novak, Director of Literacy for the Minnesota Department of Education; Dr. Lucy Payne, PELSB Board Chair; Jane McDonald Black, Executive Director of the JAB Foundation; Minnetonka School Board members Karen Jordan, Taunya Kolbinger and Meghan Selinger; Associate Superintendent Dr. Amy LaDue, and other school district leaders for a morning of classroom visits in both English and Spanish Immersion learning environments. The group observed Functional Phonics, Arts & Letters, and Morphology instruction, as well as students engaging enthusiastically in whole-group lessons and individualized learning opportunities.

Minnetonka Schools’ efforts to bolster its already strong approach to supporting literacy began well before the READ Act was passed. Mutli-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), which provides structure and alignment for instructional strategies and interventions, was implemented in 2021. The District created a dedicated literacy coordinator role in early 2023 and launched literacy professional learning for all elementary educators later that spring. This training included the science of reading, application of literacy screening data analysis and connections between reading and writing. Secondary educators began similar training in fall 2023, and all educators required to complete the first phase of READ Act professional learning finished the associated coursework and assessments by spring 2025.

“Our teachers have been trained in extensive data analysis and personalized instruction,” said Dr. Amy LaDue, Associate Superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools. “Implementing the READ Act has been an intentional, three-year shift, aligning teacher professional development with new curricular resources and the state’s updated English Language Arts standards. Our goal is for all students to read at grade level or beyond and to grow a year or more in their literacy skills during each school year.”

Dr. LaDue commended Minnetonka teachers and paraprofessionals for their dedication to implementing the new literacy practices with fidelity and for using literacy screening data to tailor instruction for individual learners.

Groveland Elementary Principal Andrew Gilbertson shared his excitement about the progress he sees that is already taking shape. “We know real, powerful changes take time, but we’re already seeing them happen,” he said. “Students are learning to read well and are enjoying their learning. We are seeing that happen in all grades—from our Kindergarteners to our fifth graders.”

Dr. LaDue thanked visiting legislators and state leaders for taking time to see this work firsthand. “You saw where the legislation started, and now you’re seeing how it is hitting the ground in our classrooms,” she noted. “This is how we close achievement gaps—by raising all boats.”

To learn more about Minnetonka’s literacy efforts, visit the District’s Literacy Plan webpage.