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June 6, 2025
The next Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Special Education Directors' Forum is scheduled for today, June 6, 2025, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
This forum will be held in a hybrid format, allowing you to attend in person or virtually.
Please complete the registration form to let us know how you plan to attend.
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Virtual attendees: You will receive the Zoom link upon registration.
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In-person attendees: Parking information will be sent to you after registration.
Important Notes for the Forum:
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Questions: For virtual attendees, please use the Q&A function in Zoom or email us at mde.special-ed@state.mn.us. In-person attendees can submit questions in writing during the Forum. All questions will be gathered and responded to after the Forum.
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Accessibility: Live transcription will be available via Zoom (Closed Caption button). If you need ASL interpretation (available virtually and in person), please contact the Special Education Division.
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Recording: The Forum will be recorded, and a captioned version will be available for later viewing.
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CEUs: Four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.
Agenda
Welcome and Announcements: Sonia Smith, Director of Special Education, MDE
Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE): Erin Toninato, Executive Director, MASE; Niceta Thomas, President, MASE
Agency and Legislative Updates: Daron Korte, Assistant Commissioner, MDE
Special Education Unit Update: Rebecca Nesset, Program Monitoring Supervisor, MDE
Paraprofessional Personnel Qualifications Updates: Special Education: Paul Dols, Special Education Workforce Specialist, MDE
Special Education Funding: Paul Ferrin, Special Education Funding & Data Supervisor, MDE
Break
Integrated Supports for Resilient Youth (ISRY): Foster Care, Homeless, Neglect or Delinquent, and Migratory Overview: Tom Delaney, Interagency Partnerships Supervisor, MDE; Jyoti Wadhwa, State Coordinator for Homeless Education, MDE; Graham Hartley, Student Access and Opportunity Programs, MDE
Closing/Evaluation: Sonia Smith, Director of Special Education, MDE
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Division of Special Education is continuing the webinar series to help support educators in the implementation of proactive and positive evidence-based strategies and resources, to highlight local examples of work done to align systems of support across the needs of diverse learners, and to provide information on specific disabilities that include voices of individuals and families within the community alongside educators and community organizations.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Presenters: Kelsey Black, Dana Page, Ph.D., and Sarah Robinson from the Division of Special Education, MDE
Register on Zoom for PCP Series Part 2.
This is the second webinar in the Person-Centered Practices (PCP) Series. Join Kelsey Black, Sarah Robinson, and Dana Page from the Minnesota Department of Education’s PCP team as they explore how to create more person-centered and effective individualized education programs (IEPs). This session will highlight the importance of focusing on a student's strengths, interests, and needs throughout the IEP planning process. Gain practical tips for pre-planning, conducting, and following up on IEP meetings to boost student and family engagement. Learn strategies to ensure IEPs truly reflect a student's desires and support their long-term goals.
Please share the following opportunity with families, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and educators within your networks.
The Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (MIHEC) at the Institute on Community Integration is conducting a brief Needs Assessment Survey to better understand awareness of college options for students with IDD, interest in inclusive higher education, and resource needs.
Your feedback is crucial and will directly inform our work, helping us tailor resources to your needs.
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Who should complete the survey? Students with IDD, their families, and educators.
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How long will it take? Approximately 10 minutes.
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Ready to take the survey? MIHEC Needs Assessment
Your participation helps us ensure our work remains student-centered and our resources are accessible to all.
If you have any questions, please contact MIHEC (mihec@umn.edu). Thank you for your support in reaching all demographics across the state!
The local assessment option for paraprofessionals supporting children with disabilities in special education programs has been updated. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) establishes and maintains this updated local assessment as one of the qualification options for districts to determine eligibility for state special education aid calculations.
The updated local assessment may now be used for new and recently hired paraprofessionals if no other federal or local requirements are in place; however, a paraprofessional must meet the minimum qualifications before serving in special education programs. The regulation does not permit a provisional period to meet requirements, and the U.S. Department of Education has denied requests to waive or relax the requirements.
The local assessment could be an option for paraprofessionals who do not have two years of college credits or an associate degree or higher, or who have not yet received a passing score on an MDE-approved formal assessment (ParaPro or Paraeducator). For specific questions about local staffing policies or practices, MDE continues to direct community members to reach out to their special education director.
More information about the updated local assessment will be provided at the Special Education Directors' Forum on June 6, 2025 (registration information above). A frequently asked questions (FAQ) will be posted in June to provide additional guidance for all the paraprofessional requirement options, including the local assessment option.
If you have any questions about the updated assessment and other personnel qualification options, please email the MDE Special Education Division (MDE.Special-Ed@state.mn.us).
Students, parents and teachers are invited to share their stories
MDE is engaging in conversations with students, families, and education partners to gauge the impact of federal actions on Minnesota school communities. We invite you to visit the new public feedback portal on the homepage of our website to share your story about the impacts you are seeing and experiencing.
As a reminder, Commissioner Jett's previous communications to Minnesota families and educators are available on the MDE News Release website for easy access and sharing. Thank you for your continued dedication to serving our students, educators, schools, and libraries.
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