April 25, 2025, Special Education Updates

Minnesota Department of Education sent this bulletin at 04/25/2025 02:00 PM CDT
Minnesota Department of Education

Special Education Updates

April 25, 2025

April 2025 Special Education Directors' Forum Recording Available

The captioned April 2025 Prerecorded Special Education Directors' Forum is available. Access the links to the meeting evaluation/continuing education units (CEUs) and accessible handouts by selecting "Info" from the menu at the lower right of the player window.

Reminder: 2025 Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) Technical Assistance Webinars

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will host a series of technical assistance webinars for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that used and/or indicated use of CEIS under either Voluntary CEIS (FIN 425) or Mandatory CEIS (FIN 429). Access the MDE CEIS webpage for more information.

  • Monday, April 28, 2025, 10-11 a.m., CEIS Webinar 1: Fiscal and Program Requirements. Topics include CEIS/Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) state and LEA requirements, applicability to charter schools, education cooperatives and traditional LEAs. Register for CEIS Webinar 1 on the ZoomGov website.  
  • Monday, May 5, 2025, 10-11 a.m., CEIS Webinar 2: Minnesota Methodology and CEIS Data. Topics include CEIS computations, formulas, and data used to identify LEAs for significant disproportionality. Register for CEIS Webinar 2 on the ZoomGov website.
  • Friday, May 9, 2025, 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 scaling up the use of an evidence-based practice to qualify for reasonable progress. Register for CEIS Webinar 3 on the ZoomGov website.
  • Friday, May 16, 2025, 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 on the ZoomGov website.
  • Thursday, May 29, 2025, 1-2 p.m. CEIS Webinar 5: Questions and Answers (open-ended). Register for CEIS Webinar 5 on the ZoomGov website.

Reminder: Indicator Data Collection (IDC)

Please remember to complete your record reviews in Stepwell MN. They are due April 30, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Nesset.

Reminder: Feedback on Federal Education Changes and Messages from Commissioner Jett

Students, parents and teachers are invited to share their stories 

MDE is engaging in conversations with students, families, and education partners to gauge the impact of federal actions on Minnesota school communities. We invite you to visit the new public feedback portal on the homepage of our website to share your story about the impacts you are seeing and experiencing.

As a reminder, Commissioner Jett's previous communications to Minnesota families and educators are available on the MDE News Release website for easy access and sharing. Thank you for your continued dedication to serving our students, educators, schools, and libraries. 

The Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Special Education Division works toward its vision that all children get necessary support for healthy development and lifelong learning; its mission is to provide leadership to ensure a high-quality education for Minnesota's children and youth with disabilities. To learn more, visit the Special Education section of the MDE website.