Ways to Take Action

  

2024 Legislative Action Alert

Minnesota Literacy Day at the Capitol, Rotunda – April 17, 2024

We support strong implementation of the READ Act for students and teachers!

In order to gain support for literacy bills now and in the future, we need your help. Please contact both your MN Senator and your MN Representative to educate them on dyslexia and why strong implementation of The READ Act is important for students and teachers.

  1. Find your MN Senator and MN Representative here.
  2. Write an email to them using the template below. In the letter, share your story and ask for their support for strong implementation of the READ Act. We want to support our students and teachers!
  3. Make an appointment to meet your legislators. Find talking point suggestions below.
  4. Attend the Rally at our Minnesota Literacy Day at the Capitol in the morning on April 17th, 2024
  5. Rally Information Flyer
  6. FAQs about the Minnesota Legislator.
  7. Lunch options. The Rathskeller Café is located in the basement of the Capitol. Also, consider bringing a packed lunch.
  8. Where can I park? Capitol Parking Map. On the map, parking lots are shaded yellow and pay stations are indicated by the circled blue P. Parking lots that aren’t shaded are limited or closed due to construction this year. There is also metered street parking that can be used with the St. Paul Passport Parking App.
  9. The tunnel from the Capitol building to the State Office Building is closed this year also due to the construction. The rest of the tunnels are open. Tunnel Map

Here is general information about the legislative process and communicating with legislators.

Below you will find a template to help create a letter to your MN Representative or Senator! Remember, short and sweet is best. Delete the blue sections, change it to your personal information, and make it your own. 

Dear Representative XXXXX or Senator XXXXX,

I am writing to you as both a constituent and a concerned parent on behalf of my dyslexic child and all struggling readers to urge you to support strong implementation of The Read Act.

Minnesota has a reading crisis! Important Literacy Facts:

  • The science of reading is an extensive body of research and evidence, over multiple decades, that proves how the brain learns to read.
  • The process of reading is the same for everyone – no matter your color, disability, socioeconomic status, or motivation.
  • Research indicates 95% of students can learn to read proficiently.
  • Nearly 50% of Minnesota students cannot read at grade level by the end of third grade.
  • Just three in 10 Minnesota students of color can read at grade level by the end of third grade.
  • Just two in 10 Minnesota students receiving special education services get the instruction they need to be a proficient reader.
  • Students who are not reading proficiently by fourth grade have a less than 75% chance of ever catching up.

***INSERT YOUR STORY HERE*** Use these questions to guide your SHORT personal story… 

  • Did your student’s teacher/school help you identify your dyslexic student? 
  • Did your student’s teacher/school offer remediation based on the science of reading? 
  • Did you seek remediation from resources outside of the school? 

FOR EXAMPLE: 
My child was a struggling reader for two years before I had her assessed privately for dyslexia. I believe if the teachers had understood the foundations of reading, her difficulties would have been understood sooner and she would not have fallen so far behind. Even after being identified with dyslexia, the teachers still did not have the tools to teach structured literacy such as understanding syllable types and spelling rules. My child has received private tutoring to learn these foundational skills. Since this is expensive, I feel strongly that teachers need foundational skills based on the science of reading so that all students, regardless of socio-economic conditions, can be supported.  

With your help, we can ensure that teachers and schools have the knowledge and resources to deliver evidence-based instruction to all students. This will work towards closing the achievement gap and providing all students with an equitable education! I appreciate your time and support.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXX 

**ADDRESS** VERY IMPORTANT – to show that you are their constituent.

Sharing your personal story
When you meet with your legislators, be prepared to share your own personal experience. Legislators typically give 15-minute appointments. The goal is for your story to be remembered because it is honest, sincere, impactful, and there are practical evidence-based solutions.

Tell your story:
• Share the basics: who are you; who is your child; are you a teacher or other service provider? Share some positives: how has your child been successful with tutoring or other remediations that you have been able to provide? Share the amazing gifts in your child such as their imagination, etc.

• What are your concerns and why is the legislation important to you? Define your struggles and concerns clearly. Give real life examples such as, “I was told to wait and that my child would grow into reading; however, now my child has been tested revealing that he is two grade levels behind in his reading/writing/spelling abilities.” or “My child is getting services, but they are not making any impact. The services are not evidence-based.”

Ask them about their position on the literacy: Are they supportive? Would they like more information? Be thankful for their time even if they are not supportive!

Other helpful information when speaking with your legislators:
• If you don’t know the answer to a question that they ask you, then that is okay. Simply let them know that you will look into it and get back to them.
• DON’T: convey a message with an attitude, anger, or frustration – leave out your emotions.
• DO: sound empathetic, informational, educational.
• DO: clarify we are not here for ourselves! We are here to provide information and our personal experience as a conduit to equitable education for all MN kids. The families who most need help may not have the time and resources to advocate for their children’s education.

Important Literacy Facts:
• The science of reading is an extensive body of research and evidence, over multiple decades, that proves how the brain learns to read.
• The process of reading is the same for everyone – no matter your color, disability, socioeconomic status, or motivation.
• Research indicates 95% of students can learn to read proficiently.
• Nearly 50% of Minnesota students cannot read at grade level by the end of third grade.
• Just three in 10 Minnesota students of color can read at grade level by the end of third grade.
• Just two in 10 Minnesota students receiving special education services get the instruction they need to be a proficient reader.
• Students who are not reading proficiently by fourth grade have a less than 75% chance of ever catching up.

With your help, we can ensure that teachers and schools have the knowledge and resources to deliver evidence-based instruction to all students. This will work towards closing the achievement gap and providing all students with an equitable education! I appreciate your time and support.

We look forward to gathering at the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda and having our voices heard to support children’s literacy!

Wednesday, April 17th, 2024

Tentative Agenda:
9:45 am Arrive at the Rotunda
10:00 am Participate in group photo in the Rotunda (bring your poster)
10:10 am Rally begins! Introduction, Legislators, and Speakers.
11:00 am Crowd adjourns to meet legislators.

Why is it important to attend?

  • We need to show the Governor and legislators that literacy is an important issue and that struggling with reading affects a significant part of the population. We need their support for legislative change. It is also a great opportunity for students to see democracy at work and to find strength in numbers.

Engage your children.

  • Make a poster to bring to the rally. Gather others in your district to make signs and plan to attend together!
  • Stop by your legislators’ offices together to drop off your letter. Even if you were not able to make an appointment, you can go by their office.

Other Ways to Take Action for Students with Dyslexia

How to reach out to your school (Principals, Special Education Director, School Board members)

  1. Continue to advocate for your children, talk to your schools about dyslexia and give them a copy of the paper produced by MDE called Navigating the School System when a child is struggling with Reading or Dyslexia. (Note that some statutes have been revised since publication.)
  2. Provide the statement released in October 2015 by Michael Yudin from the U.S. Department of Education clarifying that there is nothing in IDEA that prohibits the use of the terms dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in the IDEA evaluation, eligibility determinations, and the IEP documents.
  3. Provide the statement released in November 2015 by Michael Yudin from the U.S. Department of Education stating that children with disabilities must be held to high expectations and meaningful access to a State’s academic content standards. The IEP must align with the content standards for the grade that the child is enrolled.

What Else Can I do?

  1. Follow us on Social Media @DyslexiaMN:
    1. Like us on Facebook and join our discussions.
    2. Follow us on Twitter.
    3. Instagram
    4. LinkedIn
  2. Minnesota parents can join our Parent Support FB Group.
  3. Share this website with your family, friends, and school.
  4. Talk to your local library about doing a display of dyslexia books during October’s Dyslexia Awareness Month (see book ideas under the Expert Advise resource section).
  5. Make a donation to support our activities.
  6. Get involved at a local level:
    • Contact us to see if your district has a Facebook dyslexia community page
    • Get involved in your local PTA/PTO.
    • Go to your school board meeting. Template letter.  Template speech.
    • Join a variety of district committees, talk to other parents at local events, and discuss dyslexia with educators.
  7. Get educated about dyslexia – see all of our resources in the top navigation area!