July 18, 2025, Special Education Updates

Minnesota Department of Education sent this bulletin at 07/18/2025 09:00 AM CDT

Special Education Updates

July 18, 2025

The Department of Human Services (DHS) invites public to complete Behavioral Health Services Access and Improvement Survey

The Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Behavioral Health Administration is conducting a survey to ask clients, former clients, people in need of services, their family or friends, and the general public to identify issues with accessing substance use and mental health services in Minnesota, as well as ways to improve the system. The responses will guide efforts to improve and support these services.

We especially encourage provider organizations, advocacy groups, and community organizations to help distribute this survey to ensure we capture diverse perspectives from across Minnesota's behavioral health community. Your assistance in sharing this survey will help us gather the comprehensive input needed to make meaningful improvements to our state's behavioral health system.

Please complete the Behavioral Health Services Access and Improvement Survey and/or provide a link to this survey to anyone who might want to provide input. Service providers were already asked to complete a similar survey in May 2025. The survey ends on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Responses will be kept confidential and will not be associated with the individual.

Reminder: Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) School Districts and Individualized Education Program (IEP) Providers

The MHCP Provider Manual Individualized Education Program Services – Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology has been updated on the MHCP Provider website. Information was added to reflect that effective July 1, 2025, a speech language pathology assistant (SLPA) who meets the requirements under Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 148.511-148.5198 and is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is eligible to provide services under the direction of a qualified Minnesota Health Care Programs enrolled speech language pathologist (SLP.) The changes include the following:

Under Covered Services, we added two new sections – Supervising SLP Role and Responsibilities and Covered SLPA Services When Delegated by a Supervising SLP.
Under Noncovered Services, we added information about what services are not covered when provided by an SLPA.
Updated language for clarity.

The Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Special Education Division works toward its vision that all children get necessary support for healthy development and lifelong learning; its mission is to provide leadership to ensure a high-quality education for Minnesota's children and youth with disabilities. To learn more, visit the Special Education section of the MDE website.

Stay Connected:

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page.
You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

Minnesota Department of Education website
400 NE Stinson Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55413
651-582-8200

Inquiries can be sent to the Minnesota Department of Education Webmaster: mde.webmaster@state.mn.us.

This email may contain information about and from external organizations for the reader’s information. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement or approval by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) of any entity or organization, the products or services offered, or the views expressed. External websites are not under MDE’s control and MDE is not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or content of information in external websites linked in this email.