Mounds View outlines READ Act rollout: new screeners and K–5 core resources planned for fall

Mounds View Public School District on April 22 presented its final report on implementing the state's READ Act requirements, summarizing professional learning completed for Phase 1 (K–5), the chosen screening tools and recommended core instructional materials for K–5 instruction.

The READ Act work matters because July 2024 state requirements changed reading-instruction expectations, obligating districts to provide approved professional development, administer state-approved screeners and, where needed, adopt new core resources to align instruction across early grades.

Angie Peschel and Heidi Sarna (director of curriculum and instruction) reported that K–5 teachers are completing required professional learning through the approved vendor training this spring and that early-childhood staff are finishing state-provided training. The district said Phase 1 teacher training will be completed this summer and that Phase 2 (secondary/grades 6–12 ELA teachers) is pending further guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).

For screeners, the district's teacher review group selected FastBridge for K–3. K–3 teachers administered FastBridge in fall and winter; the district implemented a train‑the‑trainer model with the vendor and instructional-support staff to help teachers interpret data and plan interventions. In late March MDE released the screener guidance for older students; the district reported the state-designated tool for grades 4–12 will be Capti Assess with Read Basics and that the district is creating a plan to implement that assessment in 2025–26.

On core resources, about 40 teachers participated in a formal review process this year and recommended two resources for K–5: 95 Phonics Core for foundational phonics and TKLA for knowledge-building instruction. The district is finalizing quotes and training plans and expects resource deliveries in July 2025 so teachers can train over the summer and use the materials in fall 2025.

Board members and administrators acknowledged the compressed timelines from the state. Board member Jim (AMSD representative) commented, "the state has put on some really tough timelines and has messed with us a little bit by giving us a little late guidance," and praised staff and teachers for meeting deadlines. District leaders repeatedly thanked the teachers who served on review teams and noted the heavy lift of combining professional learning, screener implementation and curricular review this year.

District staff said they will continue training new teachers who enter the system, prepare principals and intervention teachers to use the screener data, and finalize vendor contracts and training schedules over the summer. No formal district adoption vote for the core materials was recorded at the April 22 meeting; staff said they will bring final pricing and training plans forward after contract finalization.