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April 3, 2026
The MDE website will be down for maintenance the morning of April 9. The website will be unavailable during this time.
Reporting and data applications, such as SLEDS and the Report Card, will still be available. Please bookmark the links to these applications so you can still access them.
Join us for the Autism Resource Symposium and Fair, hosted by Minnesota state agencies, dedicated to supporting individuals with autism, their families, and professionals through education, connection, and empowerment. This year's event will place a special emphasis on Equity, Integrity, and Impact: Strengthening Autism Services Through Evidence and Accountability, highlighting the importance of ensuring every autistic person has access to effective, ethical, and equitable care.
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Date: April 8, 2026
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Location: Minnesota Department of Education, 400 NE Stinson Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55413
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Time: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
What to Expect
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Keynote Presentations and Panels – Hear from leading experts and community members on autism and accessing diagnosis, services, and supports.
- Workshops and Breakout Sessions
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Resource Fair – Connect with organizations offering autism services, mental health supports, advocacy groups, and healthcare coverage.
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Networking Opportunities – Meet parents, self-advocates, educators, and service providers to build a strong, informed, and supportive community.
Whether you are an autistic individual, a parent, a caregiver, or a professional, this symposium will provide valuable insights and tools to promote access to services and enhance quality of life.
Let’s work together to create a future where autism support prioritizes equity, integrity, and strengthening autism services through evidence and accountability. Stay tuned for more details!
Register for the Autism Resource Symposium and Fair on Alchemer. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join. Please contact Erin Farrell (Erin.Farrell@state.mn.us), Ed.D., BCBA, Autism Spectrum Disorders Specialist, with any questions.
The Departments of Education and Human Services invite you to the Medicaid in Education Spring Forum on April 28, 2026, at the Best Western Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Forum Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Describe current Medicaid policy updates and reimbursement requirements impacting school-based health and mental health services.
- Identify and utilize state-provided resources, tools, and guidance to support implementation of Medicaid-funded services across school settings.
- Apply implementation strategies through peer collaboration and discussion to address common challenges and strengthen practices within their schools.
Location and Schedule
Although the Forum will take place at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Cloud, MN, it is a hybrid event, and in‑person registration has reached capacity. We encourage you to join us virtually, where registration is still open.
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Forum Day: The main presentation will take place on Tuesday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Virtual attendees welcome.
Registration
Participants must register to attend this event. In‑person registration is now full; however, virtual registration remains open. A meeting link will be sent to all virtual participants as the event date approaches.
Details on conference registration, the agenda, and additional announcements will be shared soon. For questions, email Sandra Mikulsky (sandra.mikulsky@state.mn.us).
Interpreter Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice: What Interpreters and School Leaders Need to Know
Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Session Description
Educational interpreters play a critical role in ensuring equitable access, meaningful participation, and legally compliant communication for multilingual learners and their families. This session provides interpreters and school leaders with a shared understanding of the Interpreter Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice as they apply to educational settings, with particular attention to special education processes. Participants will examine ethical responsibilities related to confidentiality, role boundaries, impartiality, and professional conduct, as well as the legal implications tied to federal and state requirements, including IDEA, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and Section 504. Through real-world scenarios, participants will explore how ethical interpreting practices support collaboration, protect student and family rights, and reduce risk for schools and districts.
Presenter
Ana Soler is the Co‑Chair of the National Association of Educational Translators and Interpreters of Spoken Languages and Founder of SeSo, Inc., with extensive experience developing professional training programs for interpreters in education and healthcare. She is an adjunct instructor at the University of Georgia. As part of her doctoral studies, she developed a research-based national certification test for interpreters in education.
Free Registration
Register for the Interpreter Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice: What Interpreters and School Leaders Need to Know workshop. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Continuing Education
Two contact hours will be available to individuals who attend and complete the session evaluation.
If you have any questions, please contact Billy Brooks (billy.brooks@state.mn.us).
MDE will host a series of technical assistance webinars for local educational agencies (LEAs) that utilize and/or indicated use of CEIS under either Voluntary CEIS (FIN 425) or Mandatory CEIS (FIN 429).
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Monday, April 27, 2026, 10-11 a.m. CEIS Webinar 1: Fiscal and Program Requirements. Topics include CEIS/Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state and LEA requirements, and their applicability to charter schools, education cooperatives, and traditional LEAs. Register for CEIS Webinar 1 to receive the ZoomGov meeting link.
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Friday, May 29, 2026, 10-11 a.m. CEIS Webinar 3: Minnesota's Reasonable Progress Standard (for Year 3 sites). Topics include understanding Minnesota's standard for LEAs that meet the state threshold for significant disproportionality but are making reasonable progress, and understanding the criteria for meeting the scaling up of the use of an evidence-based practice to qualify for reasonable progress. Register for CEIS Webinar 3 to receive the ZoomGov meeting link.
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Monday, June 1, 2026, 10-11 a.m. CEIS Webinar 4: CEIS Program and Public Reporting Requirements. Topics include CEIS reporting requirements in the Minnesota Automated Reporting Student System (MARSS) for charter schools, education cooperatives, and traditional districts. The webinar will also provide guidance for how LEAs should publicly report on the revision of those policies and practices that led to the significant disproportionality under 20 USC § 1418(d)(2)(c). Register for CEIS Webinar 4 to receive the ZoomGov meeting link.
The 2026 Part B Annual State Application includes statements of assurances for Minnesota's program for children with disabilities and proposed descriptions for the use of federal grant funds. The plan must be publicly available throughout the state for a minimum 30-day public comment period. View the Part B Annual State Application on the Federal Reporting section of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website. The 2026 Part B Annual State Application is available for comment from March 20 to April 19, 2026. If you wish to submit a public comment, please send it to Sonia Smith at .
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is seeking applications for membership on the Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) throughout the state. SEAP exists to provide policy and procedural guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in Minnesota. Our meeting agendas are designed to inform members about current special education activities in Minnesota and allow them the opportunity to:
- comment on rules or regulations proposed by the state
- assist with setting targets for state performance reporting
- discuss opportunities for growth within the state
- advise MDE in developing evaluations and reporting on data
- provide input for corrective action plans and implementing policies
The work and duties of this panel are to be completed by SEAP members. Members are appointed by the commissioner of education as the governor's designee and represent a wide variety of community members across the state, including parents, students, administrators, teachers, and related service professionals. Individuals who wish to participate on the panel and partner with others to achieve its goals and purposes are encouraged to apply via the Secretary of State’s website. MDE is currently seeking applications for the following positions:
- Parent Representatives: Parents of children with disabilities (ages birth through 26).
- School/Related Service Personnel: Representatives of public, private, and public charter schools.
- Student Representative: Individuals with disabilities currently enrolled in a public or private institute of higher education, high school transition, or vocational program.
Directors are encouraged to share this information with their local Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC). SEAP will meet as a group approximately five times a year, and members serve three-year terms. Prospective members should consider their ability to fulfill the time commitment necessary to attend all meetings. Deadline for submitting an application is May 31, 2026. Members will be appointed before August 1, 2026. If you have further questions, please contact Janet Christensen (janet.christensen@state.mn.us).
MDE has updated our Federal Updates webpage with recent communications and resources for schools and families. We recently published a new resource, Learning Choices for Minnesota Families, for parents and caregivers. Other languages are available on the Federal Updates webpage. Please feel free to share this resource in your school communities.
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