July 27, 2021

Special Education/Assistance and Compliance Updates

Updated Guide to Addressing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students with Disabilities

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has updated its guide to addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students with disabilities. The updated guide incorporates special education recovery services and supports as outlined in the Laws of Minnesota, 2021, 1st Special Session, chapter 13, article 5, section 1. Specifically, school districts and charter schools must invite the parents of a student with a disability to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting as soon as practicable but no later than December 1, 2021, to determine whether special education services and supports are necessary to address lack of progress on IEP goals or in the general education curriculum or loss of learning or skills due to disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

View the updated guide on the MDE website.

More Updates to Third-Party Reimbursement Manual

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has updated the Minnesota Health Care Provider (MHCP) Manual – Individualized Education Program (IEP) Services:

• Covered and Noncovered IEP Health-Related Services – Added Store-and-Forward Telemedicine for IEP Services section to inform providers that IEP policy has changed. Minnesota schools enrolled to provide IEP services and approved to provide telemedicine services can now use store-and-forward telemedicine when a child is distance learning at home for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language therapy services.
• IEP Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Services – In Noncovered Services, added an exception for distance learning. In Billing, added that "home" place of service is allowed for IEP PCA services, if the child is distance learning.

Submit Seclusion Data Now – Seclusion Reports were Due July 15, 2021

All districts, including charter schools, are required to complete seclusion reporting requirements each quarter, even if they do not have seclusion uses to report. Seclusion reporting was due on July 15, 2021, covering the time period from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021. If your district has not yet completed its reporting, please do so immediately.

• If no seclusion uses occurred during the quarter, please send an email confirming no seclusion uses to MDE.RP-SeclusionReporting@state.mn.us.
• If your district did use seclusion during the quarter, complete the Quarterly Seclusion Reporting Form, which can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Seclusion webpage, along with instructions for submission. Complete the form above electronically and submit as an Excel file by uploading to MDE on the Special Education Document Upload webpage.

Remember, seclusion reporting is different than, and separate from, physical holding reporting. Physical holding reporting has moved to Stepwell MN, and is due by August 31, 2021. However, no changes have been made to seclusion reporting requirements. Seclusion reporting, as described above, was due by July 15, 2021.

Questions can be sent to MDE.RP-SeclusionReporting@state.mn.us.

Online and Blended Learning Options for 2021-22

During the COVID-19 peacetime emergency, Minnesota public schools were required to offer a distance learning option for families. The peacetime emergency has ended, but many school districts and charter schools would like to continue offering these options for their students and families. MDE has created a provisional, expedited approval process for online and blended learning so that districts and schools can continue to meet the needs of all students and families. Online and blended learning may be offered for students and families, but student participation cannot be required. In the 2021-22 school year, schools that are not already approved online learning providers may choose to offer to their resident and previously enrolled students.

To learn more about these options, including application information, read the full Online and Blending Learning Options for the 2021-22 School Year document.

Information Session Tuesday

MDE program staff are hosting an information session at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 27. Information is posted on the MDE calendar, please pre-register by completing the Online and Blended Information Session Registration form.

Minnesota Student Survey 2022

The Minnesota Department of Education, (MDE) in partnership with the Departments of Corrections, Health, Human Services and Public Safety will be administering the Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) this upcoming school year. The MSS has been the most comprehensive source of data about the health and well-being of students in Minnesota for the last 30 years. The survey will be conducted between January and May 2022. Participation is optional, but encouraged. School districts and charter schools that participate will receive their own results in order to better understand students’ perceptions and experiences. View the MSS FAQ document for more information on the survey.

Participating schools are obligated to notify families of the upcoming survey administration under the Protection of Pupils Rights Amendment (PPRA). There are two steps you must follow:

• Notification of your district’s planned participation in the 2022 MSS must be included in your district’s annual PPRA notification.
• Prior to administration of the MSS, you must distribute a more comprehensive notification letter to parents and guardians. Sample letters will be provided in November.

More information about registering and administering the survey will be available this fall. If you have immediate questions, please contact MDE.StudentSurvey@state.mn.us.