On April 24th, Great MN Schools and Decoding Dyslexia joined forces for the third time to co-host MN Literacy Day at the Capitol. Over 150 students joined the rally along with dozens of educators, legislators, and other literacy champions to ensure the continuation of strong implementation of the READ Act and rally for structured literacy.
Students and parents shared powerful, often emotional, stories of their struggles with dyslexia and the transformation made possible by science of reading based interventions. Many highlighted the stark data: nearly 50% of Minnesota’s students read below grade level.
Lawmakers such as Representative Clardy, Senator Grunhagen, Representative Mueller, and others affirmed their commitment to expanding access to structured literacy training and teacher preparedness.
Representative Clardy, who is both a state legislator and a longtime elementary reading teacher, brought a unique and heartfelt perspective to the rally. She emphasized her personal connection to the importance of reading, having taught it for many years. Clardy acknowledged that learning to read can be a frightening and frustrating process for children who face difficulties, drawing on her own past experiences of having to relearn to read after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Clardy called attention to the importance of equipping teachers with the right tools and training so that all students can be taught in ways that meet their individual learning needs.
Representative Maria Isa Pérez Vega delivered one of the most spirited and culturally resonant speeches of the rally emphasizing how literacy is not just a technical skill, but a gateway to identity, power, and opportunity, especially in multilingual, multicultural communities. She connected phonetics to rhythm, showing how her musical background supported her literacy and language development. Her message was clear: reading is for everyone, and education should reflect the full spectrum of students’ identities and talents.
Khulia Pringle, co-chair of the Minnesota Literacy Coalition and Executive Director of Minnesota Parents United S.T.A.N.D Up, emphasized racial disparities in literacy, pointing out that only 17% of Black children in Minnesota read at grade level.
She warned that while adults debate policy, children are left waiting for change because passing the READ Act was only the first step; true progress requires implementation that includes family engagement, culturally responsive teaching, and community-based tutoring with structured literacy. She closed with a call to action: every child, not just some, must be given the opportunity to read, thrive, and lead.
This year’s Rally was more than a gathering, it was a testament to the power of lived experience, community advocacy, and the unshakable belief that every child deserves the chance to read. As voices rang “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader” in the rotunda, it became clear that Minnesota’s movement for equitable, inclusive, and science of reading instruction is not just growing, it’s unstoppable. The rally may have ended, but the momentum for change continues.
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