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May 1, 2026
The captioned recording of the April 2026, Special Education Directors' Forum is available. After viewing the recording, please complete the April 2026 Special Education Directors' Forum Evaluation Survey.
State agencies and Inclusion Consultants worked together to write the new Olmstead plan and its goals. The draft is now available for public review. An important next step is to get feedback about the draft plan from Minnesotans with disabilities, their supporters, and professionals. Feedback received during public comment will be shared with agency staff and Inclusion Consultants. They will work on updating the goals based on the feedback received. The Olmstead Plan will be finalized in Fall 2026.
The E1MN team played a key role in developing the employment-related goals included in the draft Olmstead Plan.
Employment Goal 1: More people with disabilities will have jobs in the community.
- This goal is about more people with disabilities having competitive, integrated employment (CIE). This goal has three different parts. Those parts are:
- People who receive services from Vocational Rehabilitation Services or State Services for the Blind (VRS/SSB)
- People who receive both Medicaid waiver services and VRS/SSB services
- Students ages 16 and up who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
Employment Goal 2: More Veterans with disabilities will have jobs in the community.
- This goal is about increasing the number of Veterans who have service-related disabilities, participate in DEED’s Veteran Employment Services program, and get a job.
The draft Olmstead Plan is available for review, and feedback is welcome through May 8, 2026. Visit Spring 2026 Public Comment/Minnesota Olmstead Implementation Office to review the draft and learn how to participate. Comments can be submitted in writing, or individuals can sign up for a virtual meeting to share input. Public feedback plays an important role in shaping the final plan.
Overview of the MnKFA: The MnKFA is a new statewide, observation-based assessment using 16 items from the Teaching Strategies GOLD® integrated into daily classroom routines. The MnKFA uses an asset-based approach to understand each child’s development across four domains: Social and Emotional Development; Approaches to Learning; Language, Literacy, and Communications; and Mathematics. The MnKFA is not an accountability or kindergarten readiness test, as kindergarten eligibility is based on age.
About the Pilot: The Fall 2026 pilot provides an opportunity to influence and improve the MnKFA’s online system, training, and resources ahead of statewide implementation in Fall 2027. Participation is flexible and may include some or all kindergarten teachers and/or all or some students in a classroom. MDE has a two-page overview of the MnKFA Pilot.
Who We Are Recruiting: Teams must include (A) kindergarten teacher(s)/educator(s) - including special education and English learner teachers and others who regularly provide instruction, services, and supports to kindergartners); (B) school principal(s); (C) District Assessment Coordinator; and (D) Director of Teaching and Learning or similar role.
What Participating Teams Will Do: Teachers/educators will learn how to administer the assessment, use the MnKFA platform, and provide feedback via surveys and focus groups. Other staff will learn how to set up the MnKFA (e.g., assigning accounts and rostering students).
Benefits of Participation: Individualized support, opportunities to shape MnKFA resources, stipends for educator participation outside of contract hours, and contributing to a smooth statewide rollout. How to Participate/Learn More: Visit the MnKFA website or contact mnkfa.mde@state.mn.us (response from Jon Vaupel or Nicole Zanotelli-Wade).
Minnesota PBIS and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) are offering an opportunity for schools that have been implementing PBIS with fidelity and demonstrating the core features to share their experiences. This creates a partnership with an institute of higher education, resulting in better-equipped pre-service educators, more educators in the workforce, and compensation for the presentations ─ a winning outcome for all. If your school is interested in learning more, contact Janet Christensen (Janet.Christensen@state.mn.us) or complete the Ambassador School Program Application.
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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Recording will be available soon for the 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.
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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.
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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