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October 1, 2025
Prior editions of the ESEA Update can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) ESEA Federal Title Programs webpage. "ICYMI" means "in case you missed it" and highlights when a topic is a repeat from a prior ESEA Update.
In this Edition
- Timeline Reminders
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Federal Government Shutdown and ESEA Programs
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ICYMI: New Paraprofessional Assessment Replacing ParaPro
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ICYMI: Message from MAASFEP: Upcoming 2025 MAASFEP Conference and Board Openings
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ICYMI: Wrapping Up SFY25: Financial Closeout, UFARS Comparison, and End of Year Reporting
- ICYMI: MDE ORG Contact
- Training Opportunities
Timeline Reminders
Review the SFY25 Timeline for the ESEA Consolidated Application in MEGS and the SFY26 Timeline for the ESEA Consolidated Application in MEGS. Both files are posted on the MDE ESEA Grant Application Tools webpage.
Upcoming Dates:
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October 15, 2025: Notice of significant expansion of Charter school due
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November 1, 2025: Required Fall Amendment Window opens
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November 30, 2025: Final date to submit reimbursement
requests for SFY25 expenditures
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December 15, 2025:
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SFY25 Closeout Window closes at 3 p.m.
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Required Fall Amendment Window closes at 3 p.m
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Last day to submit a reimbursement request against course code 012 funding for expenses dated July 1 through September 30, 2025
Federal Government Shutdown and ESEA Programs
Last night, Congress did not pass a federal budget or extend the current budget authorization by the end of the federal fiscal year, which has triggered a shutdown of federal government services deemed non-essential.
The federal fiscal year 2024 (FFY24) and FFY25 formula funding under the ESEA remain available. Given this, the shutdown should not cause disruption in the near term. Districts and Charter schools can continue their work plan implementation under these programs.
All FFY23 funds were required to be obligated by September 30, 2025 and are available for reimbursement request through November 30, 2025 for expenses in SFY25 and through December 15, 2025 for expenses dated July 1 through September 30, 2025. FFY24 funds will be available through September 30, 2026 and FFY25 funds through September 30, 2027.
Email MDE.ESEA@state.mn.us with questions about ESEA Title programs and related funding.
ICYMI: New Paraprofessional Assessment Replacing ParaPro
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has adopted the new ParaPathways assessment from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) as a state-approved option to meet federal paraprofessional qualification requirements. ETS plans to retire the ParaPro assessment by the end of next summer (2026). The Paraeducator assessments from The MasterTeacher, Inc. will continue to be a state-approved option in addition to the ParaPro (though summer 2026) and this new ParaPathways assessment.
ParaPathways consists of two subtests, one for reading and writing and one for mathematics, both with a passing score of 332. The redesigned assessment incorporates Science of Reading principles, emphasizes “real-world application” of mathematics, and promises more resources for test preparation and ongoing professional development. An individual must only retake a subtest that wasn’t passed and the wait time between test attempts has been reduced as compared to the ParaPro assessment.
ParaPathways is expected to be available at several regional educational service cooperatives and special education cooperatives throughout the state. As an incentive, ETS is providing free ParaPathways test vouchers through December and access to free training modules and interactive practice tests through August 2026. School districts interested in becoming ParaPathways test centers should complete the online ETS application.
ICYMI: New to ESEA? Join Our Cohort!
Are you new to ESEA programs or know someone who is? We’re launching the 2025-26 New to ESEA Cohort designed to support staff in local educational agencies (LEAs) who are just getting started. This is a great opportunity to connect with peers, ask questions, and build confidence in navigating ESEA requirements. Please complete this New to ESEA Grants - 2025-26 Cohort form or share it with any new colleagues at your LEA who might benefit!
ICYMI: Message from MAASFEP
The Minnesota Association of Administrators of State and Federal Education Programs (MAASFEP) is a professional organization that promotes an exchange of knowledge, experience, and ideas concerning federal programs in order to enable the members to serve educational entities with greater effectiveness and efficiency. Additionally, MAASFEP disseminates information about these programs, provides advice and counsel, and offers training opportunities. The following message is from the MAASFEP Board.
Upcoming 2025 MAASFEP Conference
The 2025 MAASFEP Conference will feature a Title Programs Administrative Day on October 8, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Hotel in Plymouth, MN. MAASFEP is proud to present guest speaker Kim Gibbons, Ph.D. Register for the MAASFEP Conference. See the MAASFEP website for additional conference information.
A networking and information session on MAASFEP and National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators (NAFEPA) Membership will be available to all conference registrants from 7 to 8 p.m. on October 7, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza. Light appetizers will be provided by MAASFEP.
MAASFEP Board Openings
The Minnesota Association of Administrators of State and Federal Education Programs (MAASFEP) requests that you consider serving as a representative from your congressional district on their board. Currently, representatives are needed from most congressional districts. Representatives help to communicate new information, relevant ideas and practices to help improve the expertise of the members. Contact Gretchen Hoffman (ghoffman@schs.k12.mn.us) for questions or to find out more about becoming a member of the MAASFEP Board. Please complete this form to indicate your interest.
ICYMI: Wrapping Up SFY25: Financial Closeout and End of Year Reporting
There are four steps to wrapping up the SFY25 ESEA Consolidated Application in MEGS before November 30, 2025:
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Complete all reimbursement requests. All reimbursement requests must be completed before any other financial closeout activities. Subgrantees may request up to 110% of approved object class (1xx, 2xx, etc.) totals against approved object codes in each finance code. New in 2025: LEAs may make a reimbursement request as part of the financial closeout as long as this action is completed before November 30.
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Reconcile UFARS with reimbursement requests. There is not a UFARS/MEGS comparison report. Subgrantees may find the Funding Stream Summary Report and the Payments Including Category Report helpful when reconciling UFARS with reimbursement requests. It is not necessary to reconcile by finance code + course code + object code. ESEA Title programs are satisfied as long as the subgrantee’s internal records can demonstrate the finance + object combination match between the reimbursement requests and UFARS reporting.
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Complete the Financial Closeout Report for each finance code. Financial closeout will confirm the totals drawn down against each object code in each finance code. Completion of this step moves remaining funds (carryover) into the SFY26 application and, when needed, initiates the process to generate an invoice for overpayment in SFY25 (note: MEGS provides the option to address overpayments by withholding from SFY26 draws but this is not allowable under ESEA Title programs). Financial closeout submission cannot be reversed; confirm accuracy prior to submitting.
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Complete the programmatic End of Year Report submission. Required reporting and evaluation summary are included in the End of Year Report. Both the Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR) summary and the CSPR Nonpublic Services survey are included in this section; no separate surveys will be sent. Subgrantees will also indicate high-level evaluation results for each project funded in each program. This section can be created and edited as of July 1. It can be submitted between September 1 and November 30, 2025. The End of Year Report is not dependent on financial processes.
Check the MDE Calendar for associated training dates (search for “SY25 ESEA Consolidated Application Closeout in MEGS”) or email mde.esea@state.mn.us for a recording.
ICYMI: MDE ORG Contact for ESEA
District and Charter school leaders are encouraged to update MDE ORG with the best contacts for ESEA programs. Once MDE ORG is updated, submit a MEGS Central Data amendment to update MEGS. LEAs cannot enter ESEA contacts in MEGS and will need to enter them in MDE ORG to be loaded into MEGS.
Recording of ESEA Contact in MDE ORG
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Join MDE Student Access and Opportunity staff for upcoming trainings. All links to join can be found on the MDE Calendar. There is no need to register unless otherwise noted.
McKinney-Vento Training for Homeless Liaisons
In this in-person training, participants will learn: student rights and protections under the McKinney-Vento Act, how to identify students eligible under the McKinney-Vento Act, how to apply procedures to support enrollment, transportation, and dispute resolution through a Minnesota lens, strategies to strengthen their liaison role through collaboration and best practices. The agenda for this training will include: McKinney-Vento Act: Key Provisions and Purpose, Identifying Eligible Students, Liaison Responsibilities and Best Practices, Transportation, Enrollment, and Dispute Resolution: Minnesota Lens, Collaboration with Community Partners.
Foster Care Point of Contact Office Hour
Foster Care Point of Contact (POC) office hours provide a forum for both new and experienced district, charter, and child welfare agency POCs to discuss their responsibilities and key processes. These sessions also offer an open opportunity for participants to drop in with specific questions, connect directly with Minnesota Department of Education staff for personalized support, or engage in collaborative discussions with fellow POCs to share experiences and best practices.
Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program Essentials
Join MDE staff for information about Title I, Part A Schoolwide Programs. This session will provide information about high quality Schoolwide programs, an overview of the requirements, some great conversations around flexibility, and offer an opportunity for questions and discussion. This session is offered quarterly.
Title Tuesday
Learn about topics that apply to many Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title programs.
New to ESEA - October Session
Inviting all school leaders who are new or newer to managing ESEA Title programs! Each meeting will cover all things related to the implementation of activities funded by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Each session will include new learning and ample time for questions, answers, and networking.
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