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November 7, 2025
Due to an upcoming technology upgrade, certain Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website content will be unavailable between 5 p.m. on Friday, November 14, and 8 a.m. on Monday, November 17. You will be able to continue to access MDE webpages during this time, but you will not be able to access downloads (PDFs, videos, etc.). Content in the Data Center and some of our web applications will also be unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we make important upgrades.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Division of Special Education invites you to participate in our upcoming virtual community listening sessions. These sessions are part of our Annual Performance Report (APR) process and are an opportunity to share your experiences and insights about transition planning and graduation for students with disabilities.
Each session will be held virtually and is open to families, educators, and community members. We want to hear what’s working well and what could be improved as students prepare to exit high school.
Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with families in your district. If you have questions, contact Kirsten Rewey (kirsten.rewey@state.mn.us or 651-582-8638).
Thank you for your continued support of Minnesota students with disabilities.
Recent federal staffing reductions have raised questions, but no changes have been made to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or its requirements. State and local responsibilities—including providing Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), conducting evaluations, and upholding procedural safeguards—remain fully in effect. Minnesota remains committed to ensuring students with disabilities receive the services and supports they are entitled to.
Thank you for your continued leadership and dedication.
With appreciation,
Sonia R. Smith, J.D.
Director of Special Education
Understanding the ARC Process through District Examples
What: Learn about the history and purpose of the annually required Assurance Rationale and Context (ARC) process. The session will also explore how to best utilize district data and provide examples from district staff on how they use the ARC process to plan and implement their professional development surrounding alternate assessment and eligibility.
When: Monday, November 10, from 2 to 3 p.m.
Intended audience: DACs, Special Education Coordinators, Special Education Directors
How: Register in advance to attend this Zoom session.
November Alternate Assessment Chat and Connect
What: Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS)/Alternate Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) test administrators and Special Education staff are invited to meet with MDE Alternate Assessment Specialists to give feedback, ask questions, and connect with other Special Education staff from across the state.
Why: In November, learn about the Eligibility Requirements and Decision-Making Tool for Minnesota Alternate Assessments, new Reading Alternate MCA for spring 2026, and the Alt MCA Early Stopping Rule.
When: November 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. Series will continue monthly, meeting the second Wednesday (new meeting day) of each month. Register once for the entire series of monthly meetings.
How: Contact the Alt Assessment Chat and Connect team (Alt.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us) to register.
The captioned October 10, 2025 Special Education Directors' Forum recording is available. The PDF of the PowerPoint slides is available in the recording by selecting the three ellipses in the bottom right corner and selecting Info.
If you attended on October 10 or have viewed the recording, please complete the October 2025 Special Education Directors' Forum Evaluation Survey. CEUs will be emailed following the completion of the survey.
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