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December 5, 2025
The next Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Special Education Directors' Forum will be held virtually on Friday, December 12, 2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Please register for the webinar on the ZoomGov website; you will then receive a link to join the webinar.
Webinar attendees will be muted; please use the Question and Answer (Q&A) function within Zoom for questions during the Forum. Our partners at Paradigm Veritext will provide a live transcription of the Forum through Zoom. During the Forum, access the captions with the Closed Caption button at the bottom right of the Zoom meeting screen. If you wish to access the American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, please email mde.special-ed@state.mn.us.
This Forum will be recorded. A captioned version will be made available for later viewing.
The Minnesota statewide assessment program relies on input from a range of advisory groups to ensure its continued success and relevance. Each group plays a distinct role in shaping policies, improving practices, and supporting the implementation of high-quality statewide assessments.
Except for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), all advisory groups are open to educational professionals across Minnesota who are involved with or support statewide assessments. Membership in these groups is reviewed annually, and those interested in participating are encouraged to complete the Statewide Assessment Advisory Group Application.
Together, these advisory groups foster collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and educators, ensuring the assessment system remains effective, equitable, and responsive to the needs of students and schools.
Assessment Accommodations Review Panel (AARP)
The Assessment Accommodations Review Panel reviews proposed additions to the approved accommodations, supports and non-standard test administration practices listed in the Procedures Manual for Minnesota Statewide Assessments to ensure that they do not invalidate interpretations and judgments based on the resulting test score.
Members of this voluntary committee include special education teachers, special education directors, Multilingual learner educators, educators of the deaf and hard of hearing, teachers of the blind and visually impaired, parents/guardians, school principals, District Assessment Coordinators. Panelists serve a two-year term. The panel meets one day in June, as needed.
Local Assessment Advisory Committee (LAAC)
LAAC is a voluntary committee of educational leaders in Minnesota who have an interest in statewide assessments. LAAC advises MDE on high-level aspects of the statewide assessment program, including approving testing calendars for future years and providing feedback and guidance on public messaging. Meetings are held virtually 3-4 times a year. Committee members must apply and commit to two years of service, with an option to reapply.
District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Input Group (DIG)
DAC Input Group (DIG) is a voluntary committee of experienced District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) from Minnesota public schools and charters. DIG advises MDE on recommendations to improve supports and resources for DACs and provides feedback on statewide assessment policies and procedures. The group consists of 10-15 DACs who represent a variety of districts and charters in different settings across Minnesota. DIG meets virtually on an as needed basis. DACs who are interested in participating must apply and commit to two years of service, with an option to reapply.
State Assessment Technology Work Group (SATWG)
The State Assessment Technology Work Group (SATWG) provides feedback and advises MDE on successful administration of online assessments by providing feedback and guidance to MDE and vendors before, during, and after online test administrations. Annual meetings are held virtually, and feedback is requested on an as needed basis. Members include District Technology Coordinators (DTCs), district technology staff, and District Assessment Coordinators (DACs). Committee members must apply and commit to two years of service, with an option to reapply.
Minnesota Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
The Minnesota Technical Advisory Committee (MN TAC) serves as an advisory body to MDE. The committee makes recommendations on technical aspects of large-scale assessments including item development, test construction, administration procedures, scoring and equating methodologies, and standard-setting workshops.
TAC also provides guidance on other technical matters, such as practices not already described in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing and continues to provide advice and consultation on the implementation of new state assessments and meeting the federal requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
TAC’s members include educational measurement technical and policy experts by invitation. The committee’s two-day meetings are held three times per year, in person.
Revised SLD Criteria Technical Assistance Sessions are designed to enhance the decision-making abilities of Special Education Teams as they evaluate and plan for students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), in preparation for the revised SLD criteria.
Topics will center on evidence-based practices, participant-driven questions, strategies for building buy-in, readiness, and capacity, as well as leadership development.
- What is meant by “added value assessment”?
- What will your selection criteria be? What are the logistical needs of your staff? What decision challenges may the team face?
- Examples of assessment decision trees and language frames for linking referral to evaluation plan
- Identifying areas of need
- Leadership tips
No registration is required to participate. CEUs are available.
Contact us: For inquiries about this year’s sessions or to recommend future technical assistance topics, please reach out to Vicki Weinberg (vicki.weinberg@state.mn.us) or Patty Popp (patty.c.popp@state.mn.us).
High Incidence Disabilities Office Hours provide dedicated time to share updates and resources related to high incidence and sometimes co-occurring disabilities (EBD, OHD, SLI, SLD, DCD). Each session may include highlights from current research, training opportunities, online and print resources, team-based problem solving, and strategies for strengthening specialized instruction in both behavior and academics. Sessions are interactive, with space for group discussion, questions, and concerns. Disability-specific questions may be directed to other MDE staff when needed.
- Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
- Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD)
- Other Health Disabilities (OHD)
- Speech or Language Impairments (SLI)
- Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
Schedule and Access
Office Hours are held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the dates indicated below. Sessions are recorded and posted for later viewing, so you can access them at your convenience. No registration is required. CEUs are available.
Minnesota's alternate assessment, the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) or Alternate Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (Alt MCA), is the standards-based accountability assessment designed for, and limited to, students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It is designed to measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards and meet the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Students who receive special education services and meet the eligibility criteria may take the MTAS/Alt MCA. Refer to the Eligibility Requirements and Decision-Making Tool for Minnesota Alternate Assessments for more information.
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, the alternate assessment participation rate in each state may not exceed 1% of all students tested in any subject. Note that this is not a cap on participation at the district or school level. To learn more about the federal regulations, Minnesota’s current participation rates, and what the MDE has done to support districts, read the Overview of the One Percent Cap and Alternate Assessment Participation in Minnesota.
As part of this federal requirement, districts and charter schools received an email from MDE on November 17 regarding the Assurance, Rationale, and Context (ARC) process. The purpose of the ARC process is to provide a communication tool between Minnesota districts and MDE that assures each district is identifying the most appropriate assessment for each student. Special Education Directors, District Assessment Coordinators, Special Education case managers, and other key district staff should be included in conversations about alternate assessment participation, as reflected by the district’s report, in order to complete the ARC response. Once the district has prepared their answer to the questions, one staff person will submit the district’s response by December 12, 2025.
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