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May 30, 2025
The local assessment option for paraprofessionals supporting children with disabilities in special education programs has been updated. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) establishes and maintains this updated local assessment as one of the qualification options for districts to determine eligibility for state special education aid calculations.
The updated local assessment may now be used for new and recently hired paraprofessionals if no other federal or local requirements are in place; however, a paraprofessional must meet the minimum qualifications before serving in special education programs. The regulation does not permit a provisional period to meet requirements, and the U.S. Department of Education has denied requests to waive or relax the requirements.
The local assessment could be an option for paraprofessionals who do not have two years of college credits or an associate degree or higher, or who have not yet received a passing score on an MDE-approved formal assessment (ParaPro or Paraeducator). For specific questions about local staffing policies or practices, MDE continues to direct community members to reach out to their special education director.
More information about the updated local assessment will be provided at the Special Education Directors' Forum on June 6, 2025 (registration information below). A frequently asked questions (FAQ) will be posted in June to provide additional guidance for all the paraprofessional requirement options, including the local assessment option.
If you have any questions about the updated assessment and other personnel qualification options, please email the MDE Special Education Division (MDE.Special-Ed@state.mn.us).
The next Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Special Education Directors' Forum is scheduled for June 6, 2025, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
This Forum will be held in a hybrid format, allowing you to attend in person or virtually.
Please complete the registration form to let us know how you plan to attend.
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Virtual attendees: You will receive the Zoom link upon registration. Please note you may be unable to log in until a few minutes before the start time.
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In-person attendees: Parking information will be sent to you after registration.
Important Notes for the Forum:
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Questions: For virtual attendees, please use the Q&A function in Zoom. In-person attendees can submit questions to staff. All questions will be gathered and responded to after the Forum at mde.special-ed@state.mn.us.
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Accessibility: Live transcription will be available via Zoom (Closed Caption button). If you need ASL interpretation (available virtually and in person), please contact the Special Education Division at mde.special-ed@state.mn.us.
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Recording: The Forum will be recorded, and a captioned version will be available for later viewing.
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CEUs: Four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.
If you need to change your attendance selection before June 6, please contact the Special Education Division at mde.special-ed@state.mn.us.
We are excited to share new trainings and resources to support special education providers!
Training Drawer: Preschool and School Age Compliance Topics (ages 3-22)
The More You Know: IEP Team Members and Excusal and Fast Facts: IEP Team Members: This brief recorded presentation illustrates and broadly describes the different IEP Team members and excusal of team members from an IEP meeting, along with a resource defining each IEP team member and their role. These resources are intended for district staff, parents and community members to learn more about IEP teams and membership roles and responsibilities.
District Representative: This resource addresses frequently asked questions regarding required qualifications and best practice considerations related to the role of the district representative on the IEP Team.
Training Drawer: Special Education Paperwork under Disproportionality Policy and Procedure Review
Disproportionate Representation versus Significant Disproportionality recording and Disproportionate Representation versus Significant Disproportionality presentation slides clarify the distinction between the Coordinated Early Intervention Systems (CEIS) program addressing significant disproportionality, and disproportionate representation from Indicators 4, 9 and 10.
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.
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