This bill aims to enhance early childhood education in Minnesota by expanding the READ Act to include early childhood education initiatives. Key provisions include the revision of the Parent Aware rating system to ensure that approved curricula and child assessments align with evidence-based reading instruction. The commissioner of human services is tasked with reviewing and updating the list of approved curricula and assessments, as well as establishing an incentive program to assist early learning providers in acquiring these resources. Additionally, the bill mandates a review of professional development resources to ensure alignment with the READ Act and the establishment of a pilot program for individualized literacy supports in early childhood programs.

Furthermore, the bill proposes the creation of pilot programs to evaluate parent engagement strategies aimed at enhancing early literacy skills and to assess the effectiveness of publicly funded early childhood programs' literacy instruction. The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the commissioner of human services, will oversee these initiatives, which include compiling valid measurement tools for assessing children's literacy development. The bill also includes appropriations for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education to support these programs, with specific funding allocated for curriculum review, professional development, and pilot program evaluations.