The bill appropriates funds for the "Rally to Read" initiative, aimed at enhancing literacy in Minnesota. It designates a specific sum from the general fund to the Department of Education for the fiscal year, with the St. Paul Foundation receiving a grant to distribute these funds competitively to organizations that can form community reading coalitions. The goal is to improve reading proficiency across the state, particularly focusing on children who need resources the most, ensuring they are prepared to read by age three and proficient at every grade level.
Additionally, the bill outlines that grant funds must be utilized for various supportive activities, including staffing, coalition facilitation, and data tracking, while requiring that each dollar of grant funding be matched with private funds. The appropriation is set to be available until June 30, 2027, and is classified as a one-time appropriation.