MASE in Your Mailbox - June 5, 2026

NEW

Licensure Compliance Learning Commons

The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) has launched the Licensure Compliance Learning Commons, a space for learning with and from one another. District staff are the primary audience, but anyone with an interest in licensure compliance is welcome to participate.

The Learning Commons is a series of regularly scheduled, virtual training and working sessions. These one-hour sessions are hosted twice a week on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.

Results of CAREI’s Survey of Special Education Leaders

Earlier this year, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) partnered with MASE to survey special education leaders. The results were recently released.

The results show a strong demand for systems-level MTSS implementation support, workforce solutions, instructional improvement, and practical tools that can be immediately applied in districts.

MDE Ed-Fi Updates, June 1 | Read more

ONGOING

Don’t Let a Missing Fee Pause Your Career!

The school year is winding down, and BOSA want to make sure your license stays active. If your $100 annual BOSA fee for 2025–2026 is still outstanding, your license is at risk of suspension on July 15.

Why it matters: A suspended license legally prevents you from serving in your administrative role. To help you stay on track, a final reminder email will be sent on May 30 (with a copy to your Superintendent).

Important Dates:

• June 15: Deadline to pay and stay off the suspension list.

• June 22: The Board meets to formally approve suspensions for any unpaid fees.

• July 15: Official suspension date for unpaid administrators

Check this off your list today:

• The Fast Way: Pay online via the BOSA License Renewal Portal

• The Traditional Way: Mail a check to: BOSA Office, 2 Pine Tree Drive, Suite 306, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Call BOSA at 651-582-8888 or email Karen.Schaub@state.mn.us for any questions. Let’s get this resolved so you can enjoy your summer worry-free!

MASE New Leaders Cohort, 2026-2027

Join the MASE new Special Education Leaders Cohort and become part of a supportive community of leaders growing together. Build lasting personal and professional connections and learn from some of the most respected leaders in the state! Gain practical tools to help you navigate the many demands of special education leadership at both the local and state levels. Your learning will be enhanced by having a veteran mentor who will support you and learn alongside you.

The 2026–2027 cohort will be facilitated by Dr. Heidi M. Hahn, an experienced educational leader with more than 30 years in public education, including service as both a Director of Special Education and Superintendent. She previously co-facilitated the New Special Education Leaders Cohort for 10 years and served for more than a decade as adjunct faculty at St. Cloud State University, preparing special education directors, principals, and superintendents. Dr. Hahn is known for providing practical, relevant learning in a supportive environment with a good dose of humor to deepen the learning and create life-long connections.

Watch for registration information this summer!

Reminder: Helpful Resources for Data Reporting

Early Learning Services now has a Program Reporting Calendar, with deadlines for all early learning reports in one place. They also offer a list of key contacts to support your reporting needs.

Thank you for helping keep the data strong, timely, and coordinated!

🎉 MNSELF Funding Is Available — Apply Today!

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!

NOTES: MDE Special Education Update archive: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/sped/news

NEW

CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller

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.

CASE has just announced that Abe Saffer is the new Director of Government Relations. His career spans more than 20 years and includes work in Congress, the Maryland General Assembly, for-profit and non-profit advocacy, and political campaign management. Most recently, he led federal and state policy advocacy for the American Occupational Therapy Association. Learn more about Abe.

CASE will host advocacy training for state units. This was developed under the leadership of our own Cherie Johnson. This is planned for June 18 at 4 p.m. More to come.

Registration for the Special Education Leadership Summit (SELS) is open. This event takes place July 19–22 in Washington, DC. MASE sends a group (executive director, CASE representative, president, and president-elect) to this event to learn and advocate on federal issues and their impact in Minnesota. We would love to have others join us! If you would like information regarding our travel plans, reach out to me at melissa.schaller@isd917.org and I will send you details. This event fills up quickly, so it is important to register early.

Registration for the CASE Conference is also 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. Early bird registration closes on July 15. Check out details on the CASE website.

Also, please go the Action Center on the CASE website. Here’s the latest update for action:

Released on May 2, the president's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (school year 2026-27) includes a "Special Education Simplified Funding Program" for IDEA. While total funding for IDEA would be maintained at the current level, the budget consolidates all parts of IDEA into one block grant: Part B (K12); Part C (Infants and Toddlers); Preschool; and Part D grants for personnel preparation/development, technical assistance, parent information centers, and technology. These components of the law are designed to work as a continuum of supports and services. Reducing the components of the law to one block grant, without the guarantee that each part would be funded, is a serious disservice to children and youth with disabilities, their families, and the educators who serve them.

ONGOING

ECE Workforce Survey

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet, is conducting a statewide survey to better understand Minnesota’s early care and education (ECE) workforce.

Can you help by sharing the ECE Workforce Survey with ECE professionals that you know? DYCF wants to hear from as many ECE professionals as possible so that the results reflect a full range of experiences in the field—your strong connections can help make that happen.

How to help

Please share the survey link with your contacts by email. Download a sample email and flyer now. To protect the survey from bots and ensure high-quality results, please do NOT post the link or flyer on public websites or social media.

Early Childhood Education Outcomes Screening Report Now Open

The Early Childhood Education Outcomes Screening Report is now open. Districts and schools should enter annual screening data by September 30. Find helpful resources and a link to the data entry page on the screening webpage under the reporting tab. If you are a district or charter school that screens and you would like a link to a recorded training webinar, please email Margaret.Chresand@state.mn.us.

Join Us for Our Next SLICE of Collaboration Session: Finance and Federal Funding

Tuesday, June 16 | 12 p.m.

The topic for our next SLICE webinar is Finance and Federal Funding, with presenters Cherie Johnson and Robert Dehnert. 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.

The MASE Professional Development Committee is working on plans for the 2026-27 SLICE schedule. Watch for details in the coming weeks!

Special Education Funding Training Webinars, June–July

Registration is open for several webinars. Presentation material and information on joining the webinar will be sent to registered participants the day before each training.

Members, Tell Us about Yourself

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!