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From the Executive Director,
Erin Toninato:
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A New Year Is Coming Soon
As the school year begins, it can feel as though everything needs attention at once—and the to-do lists grow faster than things can be checked off! In the middle of it all, I hope you can pause and focus on what matters most: the students, families, and staff who get to experience your leadership.
As the weather begins to change, I can't help but think about the Fall Conference. A quick reminder that proposals are due this Sunday, August 23. This year’s theme, Leading Well Under Pressure, feels especially timely!
I hope your year begins with renewed energy, a little breathing room, and maybe even one meeting that ends early. And when you need an idea, an answer, or simply an ear to hear you, remember to reach out to your MASE colleagues—you have a lot of support out there!
As always, thanks for all you do.
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✨ Share a Glimmer ✨
Share your “MASE Moments of Awe.” These are the stories—the glimmers—that highlight the beauty and importance of what we do.
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Important: Compliance Reminder from U.S. Department of Education on Membership Dues and Federal Grant Funds
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Last year, the U.S. Department of Education sent many districts a letter reiterating that federal grant funds may not be used to pay membership dues if any portion of those dues supports lobbying activities.
Because nonprofit organizations, including professional associations like ours, often use a portion of dues to contract for lobbying services, districts must not code MASE membership dues to federal special education funds.
Please review your district’s accounting practices to ensure compliance with this federal requirement. Membership dues should be charged only to appropriate, non-federal funding sources. MASE estimates that 25% of its Government Relations contract is allocable to direct lobbying, representing 2.56% of total dues, which is non-deductible as a business expense under IRC §162(e).
View the full Department of Education letter
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MDE Special Education Updates, August 21 | Read more
MDE Special Education Updates, August 13 | Read more
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Blue Ribbon Commission Draft Recommendations Call for $255 Million in Special Education Reductions
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In the 2025 legislative session, the legislature established a Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on Special Education charged with developing a plan to transform special education services while maintaining a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. Additionally, the legislature charged the BRC with the difficult task of identifying $250 million in cuts to the state special education budget. Without the identification of $250 million in savings, the reduction will be taken from cross-subsidy aid.
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MASE now offers a variety of T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, and other merchandise. Show your MASE spirit at our events! Merchandise will be shipped directly to you. Here are just a few of the options available:
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Minnesota Kids Rise Video
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Minnesota Kids Rise is a statewide effort to build trust, pride, and shared understanding of our public schools. We bring together real stories, local examples, and clear information so communities can feel confident in the role public schools play in our shared future. This work provides a clear, balanced view of how public schools support every child and strengthen communities across Minnesota. MASE encourages you to share this video to help spread the word!
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MDE Special Education Funding Training Webinars
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Registration is open for seven webinars running until October 21. Presentation material and information on joining the webinar will be sent to registered participants the day before each training.
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Join a MASE Committee
Help us shape the future of MASE! Our committees are organizing for the upcoming school year. If you want to join a committee (or if you no longer want to serve on a committee that you’re signed up for now), it’s as easy as four quick steps:
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Log into the Member Compass
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Click on the Profile tab on the left side of the screen
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Scroll down and click on the box for the committee you want to join (or exit)
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Go back to the top of the page and click the “Save” button
Participation on a MASE committee is a great way to meet and network with other MASE members, to ensure that your voice is heard, and potentially to expand your skill set and leadership skills.
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What Really Happens in Due Process: Lessons for Principals, Teachers, and District Leaders
CASE is offering a free one-hour webinar on Wednesday, September 2, starting at 1 p.m. CDT. Dr. David Bateman will kick off a monthly workshop series and office hours next month. The learning series is for General Education and Special Education leaders! This five-part workshop series is designed specifically for principals and building-level leaders who are responsible for ensuring students with disabilities receive effective, legally compliant services under IDEA and Section 504. The series focuses on one of the most important realities in schools: special education works best when building leaders work together.
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Review and Comment on Proposed EIDBI Licensing Standards
The Minnesota Department of Human Services seeks feedback on proposed licensing standards for Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) providers. These standards will establish the requirements agencies must meet to become and remain licensed, while helping ensure the health, safety, rights, and quality of services for children receiving EIDBI.
If you work with EIDBI providers, families, or students who may be impacted, take a few minutes to review the draft standards and share your feedback. Input from providers, families, advocates, and community members will help shape the final recommendations that will be submitted to the Minnesota Legislature in January 2027.
The public comment period is open through August 31.
To review the draft standards, register for an engagement session, or submit comments, visit: EIDBI public comment info/link
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CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller
For a few weeks my update has led with this quote by Margaret Meade, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This continues to ring true following our time in Washington in July. While the issues are critical, we are committed as are the delegation of congresswomen and men representing Minnesota.
Special Education Legislative Summit (SELS)
A delegation from MASE met with our colleagues from across the nation to advocate for special education on Capitol Hill. Our Minnesota delegation had the opportunity to meet with both of our senators and all eight of our representatives while we were in D.C. We discussed three main issues with them, outlined in the issue briefs from the Council of Administrators of Special Education that are linked below.
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Federal Funding for Special Education (download PDF)
School Vouchers / Public Funds (download PDF)
Preserving the Department of Education (download PDF)
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Preserve the U.S. Department of Education, keeping all education programs funded under that agency together in the agency that is best able to ensure compliance with federal education laws.
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Halt the use of any Interagency Agreements to dismantle the Department of Education; such agreements have never been used to transfer programs from one federal agency to another.
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Maintain the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) within the U.S. Department of Education.
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Reject any changes that weaken IDEA implementation and oversight.
It really is an empowering event! We would love to have a bigger delegation...consider attending with us next July! In the meantime...
What can you do?
Contact your legislators!
Share your stories! The CASE office is collecting membership testimonials. Please fill out the form and forward it to three of your CASE friends, asking them to do the same.
Renew Your Membership
With MASE membership renewals in progress now, we strongly encourage you to keep or add a CEC/CASE Professional Basic Membership as part of your renewal! If the CEC/CASE membership is not included in your invoice, please contact Laurie Pumper at the MASE office to get your record updated; it’s a quick process. Less than half of our Active Members currently have opted in (or out) for CEC/CASE membership—let’s get our numbers up!
Abraham Thinking
Abe Saffer, Director of Governmental Relations for CASE, will begin Abraham Thinking to ponder policy and articulate advocacy on September 8. This is scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month from 4-5pm CST. Register on the CASE website.
CASE Conference
Registration for the CASE Conference is open. The conference takes place November 11-13 in Providence, Rhode Island. It would be awesome to have a Minnesota contingent attend. Consider adding this to your calendar. Check out details on the CASE website.
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Last Call for Conference Proposals!
Registration for the Fall Leadership Conference Is Open
The MASE team is working hard to plan the Fall Leadership Conference. This fall, MASE returns to Madden’s on Gull Lake to host Leading Well Under Pressure on October 21-23. If you or someone you know has an idea that fits this theme, we encourage you to submit a proposal.
MASE is accepting proposals for breakout sessions through our website until August 23. That’s less than a month away! Breakout sessions will be one hour long. Please complete your submission by using the online form to provide all the required information.
Nearly 150 people are already registered for this year’s conference. We are tracking ahead of last year’s record attendance—don’t miss out!
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Sponsorship Opportunities for Fall Leadership Conference
Our sponsors and exhibitors make a significant contribution to the quality of the event—with your help, we are able to enhance our professional development opportunities. At this year’s conference, we expect over 300 special education leaders from school districts and charter schools throughout Minnesota.
Exhibit booths are going fast—only 6 spaces are still open! Boost your visibility at the conference even more with a sponsorship. We’ve already sold three of our top tier sponsorships, but these are some opportunities that are available right now:
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Mobile App Sponsor: Logo and link on MASE Fall Leadership Conference website and recognition on conference signage; includes 2 attendee registrations for the conference
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Headshot Station Sponsor: Logo and link on MASE Fall Leadership Conference website and recognition on conference signage; includes 1 attendee registration for the conference
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Keynote Sponsor: Sponsor may introduce the speaker and give a quick intro to your company; logo and link on MASE Fall Leadership Conference website and recognition on conference signage; includes 1 attendee registration for the conference
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🎉 MNSELF Funding Is Available — Apply Today!
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Did you know that funds raised at MNSELF events go directly back to YOU? MNSELF is now accepting proposals through our Professional Development Funding RFP—and we want to see your boldest ideas. Think beyond the typical district PD cycle: use funding for AI training to strengthen IEP quality, a book study on A Principal's Guide to Special Education, executive coaching, data literacy intensives, or legal fluency workshops. If it builds your leadership skills, we want to support it. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and reimbursement is issued after your final report is approved. Visit the MNSELF Website to access the RFP and submit your proposal—your next breakthrough in leadership development could be one application away!
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Members, Tell Us about Yourself
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We are bringing back the MASE Member Spotlights! We have some new questions and we’re hoping to hear from some of our members. We will feature Member Spotlights in this newsletter and in our social media posts so that members get to know more about one another. Thanks to those who have already responded!
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Student Attendance, Behavior, and Intervention Conference
October 19-20 | Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, the Depot
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This 2-day conference will equip district and school leaders with practical low-burden, high-impact strategies to improve student attendance, reduce problem behaviors, and deliver effective interventions with greater confidence to produce desired results.
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Help Share Info about Minnesota Kids Rise during Workshop Week
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As we prepare to welcome staff back for another school year, we know how valuable every single minute of workshop week is. We’re asking you to make a small amount of time for one important thing: help share information about the Minnesota Kids Rise statewide public school initiative.
Too often, the story of public education is defined by what isn’t working. Minnesota Kids Rise is an opportunity to broaden that story by showing Minnesotans what happens in our public schools every day — the relationships, opportunities, innovation, achievement, and countless moments that help our students grow.
First, please familiarize yourself with Minnesota Kids Rise.
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Go to www.minnesotakidsrise.org and read about the campaign and sign up for the toolkit, if interested.
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Follow Minnesota Kids Rise on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, and YouTube.
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Watch and send the launch video to your social circles and ask them to follow Minnesota Kids Rise on social media.
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Tell your families about Minnesota Kids Rise via district communications — these resources have been made for you and are available in the online toolkit.
During workshop week, please set aside a few minutes with your staff to introduce Minnesota Kids Rise and ask them to get involved in these simple ways:
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Go to www.minnesotakidsrise.org and read about the campaign.
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Follow Minnesota Kids Rise on social media. Share its content. Tell the stories of the incredible things happening in your school.
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Watch and send the launch video to their social circles and ask them to follow Minnesota Kids Rise on social media.
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For those districts that have not started school yet, come and attend “I’m a Minnesota Kid Day” at the Minnesota State Fair on September 2 and look for our booth celebrating Minnesota’s public schools.
Most importantly, remind your team that their voices matter. Every teacher, principal, staff member, parent, graduate, and community member has a public school story. When thousands of us begin telling those stories together, we can change the conversation about public education in Minnesota.
Minnesota Kids Rise isn’t about suggesting our schools don’t face challenges. We know they do. It’s about making sure those challenges aren’t the only stories Minnesotans hear.
Thank you for your leadership and for everything you do for Minnesota's students.
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2026 MASA Fall Conference: Register Now!
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Registration is open for the 2026 MASA Fall Conference in Brainerd!
Minnesota's school leaders are doing some of the most important—and most complex—work in our state. This fall, MASA gathers educational leaders from across Minnesota to learn, connect, and lead forward together.
Look for practical sessions that move beyond awareness to real implementation guidance. Hear from peers who've navigated similar challenges. Walk away with tools, strategies, and ideas you can use on Wednesday morning after our conference.
September 27-29 | Madden’s on Gull Lake, Brainerd
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Prepare Your MDE-ORG-Info for the 2026-27 School Year
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Summer is an ideal time to update information for the new fiscal year in MDE-ORG, the MDE master database for organizational directory information. MDE-ORG validates sites for all major MDE reporting systems, including MARSS, UFARS, assessments, and more. It is important that a point person is identified as the MDE-ORG Site Verification Coordinator (SVC) for your district/organization. The SVC has access to request and certify school/site configuration changes and update other essential contact and address information for your organization and all sites within your organization. If you are unsure if someone has been appointed to this role, you can check the SVC Glossary on MDE’s website.
School Finance staff recently sent a reminder email to all the known SVCs at school districts and charter schools, but this process could use your engagement as well. Please have your SVC review your organization record and reporting sites, including contacts, addresses and grades, and make changes in time for the start of the 2026-27 school year. To ensure data collections, payments, and reports are correct, organization and school site information and contacts for the 2026-27 school year must be reviewed and certified by August 28, 2026.
For more information, read the Annual Verification of District and School Site Information for SFY 2026-27 letter found on MDE’s District and School Site Verification webpage. This is the letter sent to SVCs that outlines the timeline and steps to maintain accurate organization and reporting site directory information, which is critical in correctly processing records for your organization including students, staff, payments, and federal programs.
If you have any questions, please contact Jen Verbrugge (mde.school-verify@state.mn.us), MDE-ORG Administrator.
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Click the button above to submit your news and/or job openings! Also, please whitelist info@mnase.org and laurie.pumper@mnase.org to ensure that you receive your newsletter without interruption.
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Goalbook
Ratwick, Roszak & Maloney
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