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PURPOSE
MASE strives to:
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Offer information that is concise, consistent and predictable to support the work you do in your communities
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Streamline our communications and reduce the number of messages in your mailbox
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A message from Laurie Pumper,
MASE Operations Director:
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 Your Voice Makes a Difference
Thanks to so many of you who attended the “From DC to Your District” webinar this week. We had more than 220 people from our five Midwestern States join for at least a portion of the program with Myrna Mandlawicz with CASE and Kuna Tavalin from CEC.
One of the key messages was about the importance of contacting your elected officials, no matter what their views may be, to let them know that you care about special education funding and that you have knowledge and experience to share with them.
Myrna and Kuna shared that sometimes we assume that we don’t need to call a congressperson who agrees with our views because they will vote the way we want anyway. But those officials do appreciate hearing your thanks for support, as well as what you are seeing in your schools. And when you contact an official who has never supported special education before, you may not persuade them—but you may open a door just a bit. (Especially when that official hears from many from their district.)
Erin will be back next week. Until then, 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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CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller
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Look for information, including how to register, in the CASE Member Update on Friday, Feb. 27 regarding the CASE Annual Membership Meeting. This is scheduled for Friday, May 1 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
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If you would like to support the process of reviewing proposals for the CASE Fall Conference, November 11-13 in Providence, Rhode Island, please complete this Google Form to indicate your interest. This process will begin later in March.
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If you are attending the CASE Academy of Law and Leadership, April 21-23 in Atlanta, Georgia, don't forget to sign up for CASE Night on Wednesday, April 22.
MDE Special Education Updates, February 20 | Read more
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CASE Members: Last Chance to Make Nominations for Executive Committee
CASE invites members to consider serving the organization in a leadership capacity on the CASE Executive Committee. CASE seeks nominations for the positions of Treasurer, Member at Large, and President-Elect. If you are interested, click the link below to apply. A current résumé and professional photo are required. The application deadline is today—Friday, Feb. 27.
All three positions are for two-year terms beginning on July 1, 2026.
Nomination Application
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CASE Membership
We recently learned that CASE membership in Minnesota is down 34% from last year. CASE is an important resource for leaders in special education and we encourage you to consider membership in the upcoming school year. It is simple to sign up and can be done at the same time as MASE membership.
With that said, if you are unsure if you have an active CASE membership, please reach out to Melissa Schaller (melissa.schaller@isd917.org) and she can double-check against our roster for Minnesota. We did have a few issues with CASE memberships as we transitioned our management.
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Special Education Legislative Update & Discussion with Rep. Bianca Virnig
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Join district leaders for a Special Education Legislative Update and Discussion on February 27, 2026, from 8:30–10:45 a.m., with House Education Committee Member Bianca Virnig. Speakers (all four are MASE members) will share what’s working well in their districts and discuss upcoming challenges in special education, followed by time for conversation.
The event will be held in the Lady Slipper Room at the Centennial Office Building in St. Paul, with a virtual option available via Teams. Parking information is available here.
This free event is open to all district staff. Please register in advance and indicate whether you plan to attend in person or remotely. We hope you can join us!
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Last Chance! Register for Our In-Person Finance Academy Session in Staples on Monday
This all-day finance sessions will provide an overview and deep dive into special education finance. It will include timely reporting, state and federal aid, tuition billing, third party billing, and much, much more. Participants will dive deep into state reports and interactive budgeting and staffing models. These workshops will include information on how to maximize your revenue to navigate budget cuts. To prepare for the training, you’ll be asked to bring copies of several reports from the last two years to ensure that the hands-on session will be productive.
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Download the 2026 MASE Legislative Platform
 The MASE Legislative Committee, working with lobbyist Valerie Dosland, has created our Legislative Platform for this session of the Minnesota Legislature. With Day at the Capitol less than a month away, read the platform so you’re aware of the issues our team will focus on. Key focus areas are fair and sustainable funding (including repeal of the $250 million cut to special education cross-subsidy aid), and flexible and supportive policy—especially pertaining to special educator recruitment and retention as well as safe and secure school environments.
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Register Now for MASE Day at the Capitol
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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.
More details will be shared as we get closer, but the current plan is to meet at the State Capitol at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4. Once registered, you’ll receive instructions on how to use our advocacy software to schedule meetings with legislators who represent your school district.
To help members feel prepared, MASE will host a virtual session on February 27 at 10:30 a.m. This session will cover key issues, provide tips for effective legislative conversations, and walk through what to expect during the day, so you feel confident engaging in meaningful discussions and making the most of your time on March 4.
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MDE Special Education Funding Training Webinars, March–April 2026
Registration is open for each of the webinars listed below. To register, simply click on the training date and follow the instructions. Presentation material and information on joining the webinar will be sent to registered participants the day before each training.
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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.
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Join Us for Our Next SLICE of Collaboration Session: Data Tracking Staffing
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Tuesday, March 3 | 12 p.m.
The topic for our next SLICE webinar is Data Tracking Staffing, with presenters from Area F2. Join us at Noon for informal conversations with your colleagues from across the state. These sessions are open to members only. You'll receive the link to join in your confirmation e-mail. Reminder: You must login to our website to see the registration button for this event.
Reminder: You must login to our website to see the registration button for this event.
You can register for additional SLICE sessions on the MASE website—check our Calendar.
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MASA Annual Spring Conference
March 19–20 | Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, Brooklyn Park
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The MASA Spring Conference brings educational leaders from across the state together to share ideas, strengthen connections and inspire action. Centered on the theme Lead. Learn. Connect., the event celebrates our collective effort to guide, support, and create opportunities for every student to thrive.
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Project SAIL: School Leaders Advancing Implementation across the Lifespan
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Join Project SAIL to earn a PhD with an emphasis in special education (from the Department of Educational Psychology) and a Minnesota director of special education license (from the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development) at the University of Minnesota. SAIL blends these two programs to support working school professionals to engage in knowledge and skills-building experiences while continuing to work in school systems. On completion, these school administrative leaders will be well qualified to plan and supervise the provision of effective instruction, interventions, and services for students with disabilities through their unique understanding of implementation science.
Get more details in our Feb. 13 newsletter
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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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