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From the Executive Director,
Erin Toninato:
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 Carrying Your Stories, Challenges, and Successes to Congress
This Sunday, MASE is headed to the Special Education Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., where we'll join colleagues from all 50 states to bring the voice of Minnesota's special education leaders to Capitol Hill. I'm grateful to be traveling alongside Melissa Schaller (CASE Liaison to the Board), Rob Dehnert (MASE President-Elect), and Nicole Bolduan (MASE President) as we advocate on behalf of our members and the students we serve. We'll also be joined on Capitol Hill by Cherie Johnson, CASE Federal Advocacy Chair, whose leadership at the national level continues to strengthen our advocacy efforts. Together, we'll be carrying your stories, your challenges, and your successes with us as we meet with our congressional delegation.
Closer to home, I'm also thinking about those of you experiencing the difficult wildfire smoke across Minnesota. I hope you and your families are staying safe, and that clearer skies and some relief arrive soon!
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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MDE Special Education Funding Training Webinars
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Registration is open for seven webinars running from August 12 to October 21. Presentation material and information on joining the webinar will be sent to registered participants the day before each training.
Learn More and Register
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Updates to the Minnesota READ Act
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The 2026 legislative session brought several important updates to the Minnesota READ Act, strengthening Minnesota’s ongoing commitment to high‑quality literacy instruction for all students. This month’s newsletter highlights key statutory changes, including revisions to screening requirements across grades K–12, updates to professional development pathways, enhancements to curriculum review processes, and technical revisions that clarify key definitions within the law. These changes support districts, charter organizations, and educators as they continue implementing structured literacy aligned with the READ Act, and they reflect the state’s dedication to ensuring equitable, evidence‑based literacy practices for every learner.
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MARSS Statewide Edit Submissions and Entitlements (FY2026)
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School District and Charter school MARSS staff have been submitting preliminary final FY2026 student data to MDE since mid-March to begin closing out the year. Up to this point in MARSS reporting, General Education entitlements have been paid based on estimated data submitted on the ADMWE system. Beginning with the July 23 statewide MARSS edit and every subsequent statewide submission until Oct. 8 (when your district’s final student data is due), MDE School Finance staff will adjust entitlements based on these MARSS submissions. Please note that although MARSS has its own set of required and optional deadlines, General Education payment in IDEAS dates do not always align perfectly. Payments might come earlier or later, depending on the IDEAS calendar. The Aug. 30 IDEAS payment will reflect FY2026 MARSS data. The FY2027 district payments will continue to use estimated student data from ADMWE until this time next year.
Due to the availability of multiple MARSS statewide edits over the next three months, once the final MARSS student data submission deadline has passed, appeals of student data will not be accepted unless under extreme circumstances. For the remaining submission dates, please see the MARSS FY2026 EOY timeline. Because student data is a critical part of school district and charter funding, MDE staff reminds MARSS staff to review the following local and statewide reports before and after each MARSS submission until the data is finalized for FY2026 with the October submission.
Local (Secure) Reports
Statewide (Secure) Reports
• MARSS 29 – Low ADM • MARSS 35 – ADM Adjustment • MARSS 31 – Residents Served Elsewhere (to be reviewed alongside MARSS 19 from the serving district and MARSS 35, since adjustments are tied to resident students served elsewhere) • MARSS 42 – End of Year (EOY) Check-Off • MARSS 32 – English Learner Funding Eligibility Report • MARSS 56 – PSEO Statewide Report
Please reach out to the MARSS Helpdesk (MARSS@state.mn.us) with any questions.
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Help Me Connect Resources
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Help Me Connect serves as a statewide resource portal for providers and families seeking support related to child development, early intervention, health, mental health, family support, and basic needs. It is part of the Early Learning Division of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Here are a few resources that Help Me Connect offers:
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Volunteer at the State Fair with Minnesota Kids Rise
As you may have read, MASE is one of the partnering organizations with Minnesota Kids Rise (MKR). MKR is hosting “I’m a Minnesota Kid” Day at the Minnesota State Fair on Wednesday, September 2. This will be a major public launch milestone. MKR seeks 50 to 60 volunteers to support the booth and campaign presence throughout the day.
Volunteers may help:
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Welcome visitors to the booth
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Share information about MKR
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Support interactive booth activities
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Help distribute materials or giveaways
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Encourage visitors to participate in the “I’m a Minnesota Kid” experience
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Create a visible campaign presence throughout the fairgrounds
Each volunteer will receive:
Volunteer shifts are available now—sign up here:
Minnesota Kids Rise Interest & Volunteer Form – Fill out form
Can’t Volunteer? You Can Still Participate.
If you are planning to attend the Minnesota State Fair on Sept. 2, but are unable to volunteer, you can still help promote the campaign. Use the same state fair sign up form (linked above) and let us know you would like to attend and promote Minnesota Kids Rise.
Thank you for being part of Minnesota Kids Rise and for helping bring this statewide campaign to life. Your participation, communications support, and community connections are essential as we move into the next phase of the initiative.
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Nominations Are Open for the Superintendent of the Year Award
MASA is accepting nominations for the 2027 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year. The recipient of this prestigious honor will represent Minnesota as a candidate for the AASA National Superintendent of the Year award. The national winner will be announced at the AASA National Conference on Education, taking place February 25–27, 2027, in Atlanta.
This award celebrates the visionary leadership of those currently serving as superintendents in Minnesota’s public schools. It is not intended as a retirement recognition or an award for state or national education leaders outside of an active, front-line superintendent role.
The nomination deadline is August 31. This award is sponsored by ATSR.
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CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller
I want to lead 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.” With this in mind, this week’s CASE Update contains a great deal that we can do, given our current circumstances.
The CASE Collective: "Leading in Light of Current Circumstances"
Abe Saffer hosted the CASE Collective on June 25 regarding the recent interagency agreements moving OSERS to the Department of Health and Human Services and OCR to the Department of Justice. Look for the slides on the CASE website.
CASE signed on with more than 715 other organizations opposed to the recent IAAs.
CASE has a Policy Statement: The Federal Role in Special Education that outlines the organization's position.
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!
Myrna Mandlawitz is moving away from her role with CASE. We will miss her dearly. If you would like to write a message to her, please do so here. CASE will share these with her in a manner yet to be determined, as they are still in the process of planning how to honor her contributions to the field.
Abe Saffer 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.
Registration for the CASE Conference is open. This 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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READ Act: Structured Literacy Implementation Training for Elementary School Leaders
MDE wants to hear from Elementary school leaders interested in taking a structured literacy implementation training. MDE is offering, at no cost, three different training programs:
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LETRS for Administrators (Lexia)
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Leadership for Literacy (CORE)
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CAREIALL for ALL (Advancing Literacy Leadership)
Complete this MDE Literacy Training for Elementary School Administrators interest form by August 1, 2026 to be added to a waitlist to be notified when the next available cohort is available.
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Fall Leadership Conference Call for Proposals
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. Breakout sessions will be one hour long. Please complete your submission by using the online form to provide all the required information.
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Special Education Funding Training Webinars, Through July
Registration is open for several webinars. 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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🎉 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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Free Professional Development Opportunity: Online Instruction
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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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