2024 Legislative Platform
MASE Legislative goals -- to share when you meet with your legislators!
MASE Legislative goals -- to share when you meet with your legislators!
- Fair & sustainable funding systems
- Qualified special education workforce
- Special education paperwork reduction
MASE Week at the Capitol!
Information and schedule from the 2024 Week at the Capitol can be found at: https://sites.google.com/view/maseweekatthecapitol. Please check back for updates!
RSVP coming soon! The MASE Day at the Capitol is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27. The day begins at 9:00 am in Room G3 of the State Capitol. We will start with a short session outlining what to expect with your visits, provide tips for communicating with legislators, and give you information to help you navigate around the capitol complex. Afterwards, you will be off to meet with your legislators for the morning. At the end of January, we will email you a link to request a meeting with your legislators using our new advocacy system. Right before the day, we will email you a packet including the information needed for your meetings (MASE platform, bill tracker, and details to help you find your way to and around the state capital). This information will also be available on the MASE website. If you travel from a distance and need to reserve a hotel, here are a few options for hotels near the state capitol - Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown St. Paul, and Radisson Hotel Downtown St. Paul.
You can still use the following links for contacting your legislators and legislative advocacy!
Meetings can be challenging to schedule, so early and numerous attempts are sometimes necessary. This link will help you identify your legislators and provide helpful tools for scheduling these meetings. Connect with your colleagues to coordinate meetings as partners or in small groups - we’re better together!
Information and schedule from the 2024 Week at the Capitol can be found at: https://sites.google.com/view/maseweekatthecapitol. Please check back for updates!
RSVP coming soon! The MASE Day at the Capitol is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27. The day begins at 9:00 am in Room G3 of the State Capitol. We will start with a short session outlining what to expect with your visits, provide tips for communicating with legislators, and give you information to help you navigate around the capitol complex. Afterwards, you will be off to meet with your legislators for the morning. At the end of January, we will email you a link to request a meeting with your legislators using our new advocacy system. Right before the day, we will email you a packet including the information needed for your meetings (MASE platform, bill tracker, and details to help you find your way to and around the state capital). This information will also be available on the MASE website. If you travel from a distance and need to reserve a hotel, here are a few options for hotels near the state capitol - Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown St. Paul, and Radisson Hotel Downtown St. Paul.
You can still use the following links for contacting your legislators and legislative advocacy!
Meetings can be challenging to schedule, so early and numerous attempts are sometimes necessary. This link will help you identify your legislators and provide helpful tools for scheduling these meetings. Connect with your colleagues to coordinate meetings as partners or in small groups - we’re better together!
ESEA Flexibility Process
The MN Department of Education provides materials with a substantive overview of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility process, also known as ESEA waivers. Using these waivers, 43 states (including MN and the District of Columbia) have applied for and received flexibility regarding certain provisions of ESEA.
The Opportunity of ESEA Flexibility brochure, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, explains the rationale and intent of ESEA flexibility.
Related fact sheets:
The MN Department of Education provides materials with a substantive overview of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility process, also known as ESEA waivers. Using these waivers, 43 states (including MN and the District of Columbia) have applied for and received flexibility regarding certain provisions of ESEA.
The Opportunity of ESEA Flexibility brochure, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, explains the rationale and intent of ESEA flexibility.
Related fact sheets:
- Protecting School and Student Accountability
- Advancing Accountability and Graduation Rates
- Continuing to Expose and Close Achievement Gaps
- Turning Around the Lowest-Performing Schools
- Supporting Teachers, Leaders, and Local Innovation
2023-24 Key Legislative Contacts
|
President
Ms. Melissa Hanson Executive Director Meeker & Wright Special Education Cooperative 320-543-1122 | [email protected] |
MASE Executive Director
Ms. Erin Toninato Minnesota Administrators for Special Education 507-822-0877 | [email protected] |
President-Elect
Ms. Amy Ernst Director of Special Services Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools 763-682-8721 | [email protected] |
|
Secretary
Ms. Michelle Cuka Director of Student Support Services Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools 952-226-0033 | [email protected] |
Treasurer
Ms. Erin Hoffman Director of Special Education Southwest West Central Service Cooperative 320-354-2252 x2442 | [email protected] |
Past President/
Legislative Committee Tri-Chair Ms. Jamie Nord Asst Superintendent of Educational Services Independent School District 728 763-241-3491 | [email protected] |
|
Legislative Committee Tri-Chair
Ms. Heidi Nistler Asst Superintendent of Specialized Services St. Paul Public Schools 651-744-6508 | [email protected] |
Legislative Committee Tri-Chair
Ms. Nicole Woodward Executive Director St. Croix River Education District 320-358-1244 | [email protected] |
MASE Lobbyist
Ms. Valerie Dosland Director of Government Relations Ewald Consulting 612-490-3052 | [email protected] |