Here is general information about the legislative process and communicating with legislators.
Ways to Take Action
2026 Legislative Session
Save the Date – Minnesota Literacy Day at the Capitol – April 21, 2026 at 10:00am
** We need your Voice **
We are working to ensure that students with dyslexia receive the support they need—and that teachers have the training to recognize and help them in the classroom
Please contact both your MN Senator and your MN Representative to request a hearing on SF1842/HF60, and to educate them on dyslexia and why requiring educators to receive two hours of dyslexia professional development is important for students and teachers. For the second year in a row, we are trying to pass this bill. This bill did not pass last year so we need your help getting a hearing for the bill in the Senate and the House.
- Find your MN Senator and MN House of Representative here.
- Write an email to MN Senator using this Senate email template, and your MN House of Representative using this House email template. Share your story and ask for their support for SF1842 / HF60.
- In your email, request to make an appointment to meet your legislators at the Capitol on Monday-Thursday, or at a coffee shop in your district on a Friday. Here are the Talking Points – Unlocking Your Personal Story.
- Bring the Dyslexia Coalition Legislative Priorities called One Page Leave Behind for your legislators or attach it to an email.
- Attend the Rally at our Minnesota Literacy Day at the MN State Capitol Rotunda on April 21, 2026 starting at 10:00 am.
- Rally Flyer – coming soon.
- FAQs about the Minnesota Legislator.
- Lunch options. The Rathskeller Café is located in the basement of the Capitol. Also, consider bringing a packed lunch.
- Where can I park? Capitol Parking Map. Parking lots are shaded yellow and pay stations are indicated by the circled blue P. There is also metered street parking that can be used with the St. Paul Passport Parking App.
- The tunnel from the Capitol building to the State Office Building is closed due to the construction. The rest of the tunnels are open. Tunnel Map
Template to help create a letter/email to your MN House of Representative. Change the blue sections to your personal information, and make it your own. Make all the text black – Your letter should ONLY be one page long.
Dear Representative XXXXX,
I am writing to you today as both a constituent and a concerned parent. I support the work of the Dyslexia Coalition and ask that you help in getting a hearing for the bill HF60/SH1842.
I urge you to request a hearing for HF60/SF1842 in the House Education Policy Committee.
HF60/SF1842 Dyslexia PD requires a one-time, 2-hour educator PD covering: 1) the effects of dyslexia on the development of reading, 2) effective instructional needs for students with dyslexia, 3) the mental and behavioral comorbidities of dyslexia, and 4) defines district and state resources.
***INSERT YOUR STORY HERE*** These questions can help write a SHORT personal story.
- What are your concerns? Why is the legislation important to you?
- Describe your child’s struggles that were due to a teacher not understanding dyslexia? Give real examples.
- Did your child suffer emotional issues that resulted from this misunderstanding?
- Did your child fall further behind because they were not identified with characteristics of dyslexia?
- Why would it be helpful for your child’s classroom teacher to understand what dyslexia looks like and how to help a child with dyslexia?
Please support the Dyslexia Professional Development bill HF60/SF1842 by requesting the Chair hear the bill in the House Education Policy Committee. This bill was introduced in 2025, and we hope to see it passed in 2026.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXX
**ADDRESS** Very important to show that you are their constituent.
Keep to one page only.
Template to help create a letter/email to your MN Senator. Change the blue sections to your personal information, and make it your own. Make all the text black – Your letter should ONLY be one page long.
Dear Senator XXXXX,
I am writing to you today as both a constituent and a concerned parent. I support the work of the Dyslexia Coalition and ask that you help in getting a hearing for the bill SF1842/HF60.
I urge you to request a hearing for SF1842/HF60 in the Senate Education Finance Committee.
SF1842/HF60 Dyslexia PD requires a one-time, 2-hour educator PD covering: 1) the effects of dyslexia on the development of reading, 2) effective instructional needs for students with dyslexia, 3) the mental and behavioral comorbidities of dyslexia, and 4) defines district and state resources.
***INSERT YOUR STORY HERE*** These questions can help write a SHORT personal story.
- What are your concerns? Why is the legislation important to you?
- Describe your child’s struggles that were due to a teacher not understanding dyslexia? Give real examples.
- Did your child suffer emotional issues that resulted from this misunderstanding?
- Did your child fall further behind because they were not identified with characteristics of dyslexia?
- Why would it be helpful for your child’s classroom teacher to understand what dyslexia looks like and how to help a child with dyslexia?
Please support the Dyslexia Professional Development bill SF1842/HF60 by requesting the Chair hear the bill in the Senate Education Finance Committee. This bill was introduced in 2025, and we hope to see it passed in 2026.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXX
**ADDRESS** Very important to show that you are their constituent.
Keep to one page only.
2026 Talking Points – Unlocking your Personal Story
Ideas for Talking to Your Senator or Representative
Tell your story:
- Share the basics: who you are, who your child is, and whether you are a teacher or other service provider.
- What are your concerns? Define your struggles and concerns. Give real-life examples such as, “Teachers wanted to help my child, but they lacked knowledge on dyslexia,” “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.”
- Share some positives: how has your child been successful with tutoring or other remediations that you have been able to provide? Has reading instruction improved, but not intensely enough to close the gap?
2026 Legislation:
- Express why the legislation is important to you. Example: Tell them how your student has teachers who want to help, but lack knowledge of dyslexia. Or explain the damage that can be done when teachers don’t understand the signs and symptoms of dyslexia and mischaracterize struggling readers as “lazy”, “not motivated,” or blame parents for not reading at home.” Dyslexia PD will help correct this for 20% of MN students.
- Ask for their support on HF60 / SF1842 – two hours of dyslexia PD for educator license renewal covering: 1) the effects of dyslexia on the development of reading, 2) effective instructional needs for students with dyslexia, 3) the mental and behavioral comorbidities of dyslexia, and 4) defines district and state resources.
Ask them about their literacy position: Are they supportive? Be thankful for their time, even if they are not supportive!
“With your help, we can ensure that educators have the knowledge and resources to help students with dyslexia. I urge you to support this dyslexia professional development so educators can better understand and assist the 20% of students who have dyslexia. This will work towards closing the achievement gap and providing all students with an equitable education! I appreciate your time and support.”
Suggestions:
- DON’T: Convey attitude, anger, or frustration – leave out your emotions.
- DO: Sound empathetic, informational, rational, and educational.
- DO: Provide information and personal experience as a conduit to equitable education for all MN kids.
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 that 95% of students can learn to read proficiently.
- Nearly 51.1% of Minnesota students were not meeting reading standards in 2024. (MDE, Minnesota Report Card)
- Students not proficient in reading by the beginning of 3rd grade have only a 26% chance of catching up, which contributes to co-morbidity associated with learning disabilities.
- Dyslexia affects 17 – 20% of the population.
- Approximately 135,000 school-age children have dyslexia in Minnesota. (MN Dept of Revenue Analysis)
- 60% of dyslexic students also suffer from anxiety, depression, executive function, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, which, when not supported or understood, may evolve into behavior issues and absenteeism.
- 19% of high school grads cannot read, which increases joblessness, substance abuse, underemployment, and incarceration.
We look forward to gathering at the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda and having our voices heard to support children’s literacy!
Thursday, April 21, 2026 at 10:00 am
Agenda:
9:30 am Arrive at the Rotunda – allow for parking and getting through security with metal detectors.
9:45 am Participate in group photo in the Rotunda (bring your poster).
10:00 am MN Literacy Rally begins! Hear speeches from students, teachers, advocates, and state legislators.
10:45 am Crowd adjourns to mingle & attend meetings with legislators, if you have made appointments.
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.
Where can I park? Capitol Parking Map. There is also metered street parking that can be used with the St. Paul Passport Parking App.
Other Ways to Take Action for Students with Dyslexia
How to reach out to your school (Principals, Special Education Director, School Board members)
- 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.)
- 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.
- 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?
- Follow us on Social Media @DyslexiaMN:
- Minnesota parents can join our Parent Support FB Group
- Share this website with your family, friends, and school
- 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)
- Make a donation to support our activities
- 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
- Get educated about dyslexia – see all of our resources in the top navigation area!
