Legislative Platform

2026 Legislative Platform
MASE Legislative goals -- to share when you meet with your legislators!

Fair & Sustainable Funding Systems
MASE calls for legislative action to protect existing special education funding and repeal the contingent $250 million cut to special education cross-subsidy aid.

Policy
MASE urges legislators to empower school districts to recruit special educators and retain staff, and to create safe and secure school environments.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2026 MASE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

MASE Day at the Capitol

March 4, 2026
Advocacy is a core part of our work as special education leaders and MASE Day at the Capitol on March 4 gives us an opportunity to ensure our voices are heard. Decisions made at the state legislature directly impact students with disabilities, the professionals who serve them, and the systems we lead every day. By meeting with legislators and sharing real-world experiences from our schools and districts, we reinforce the importance of special education in statewide decision-making.

Register Here

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:

• 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

2026 Key Legislative Contacts