NEW

MDE Testing and Assessment Task Force

MDE is convening a commissioner-appointed statewide task force to look at reform options for the testing and assessment system for Minnesota. The primary goal of the testing and Assessment Task Force is to develop recommendations to improve the state’s assessment system by evaluating whether and how assessments can provide a more comprehensive, timely, and instructionally useful picture of student achievement, and by assessing the impacts of high-stakes testing on students, educators and families.

Task Force meetings will be held at the Minnesota Department of Education building (400 NE Stinson Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55413). Each meeting will have a virtual option for Task Force members unable to travel to MDE.

Meeting dates:

• Tuesday, November 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Wednesday, January 13, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, February 17, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, March 17, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

There will be a public viewing option, both virtually and in person.

Go to the Testing and Assessment Task Force webpage for additional information once the Task Force begins meeting as agendas, meeting notes and resources will be posted.

SEDRA and ACTE-SPED Closing Nov. 30

This is a reminder that November 30, 2026, is approaching and SEDRA and ACTE-SPED will close for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026.

The systems will be open until 4 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2026, to give Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) the opportunity to verify all reported special education expenditures with the business office and with the yearly audited Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) data.

Remember to check for error messages in SEDRA and ACTE-SPED before November 30, 2026, as these errors need to be addressed prior to closing.

SFY 2026 Closeout Process in MEGS Deadline: Nov. 30

Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) will need to complete the financial closeout process in MEGS for all federal special education finance (FIN) codes for SFY 2026 by November 30, 2026. This will move any carryover funds into SFY 2027. If you have an open SFY 2027 application, you should see carryover appear under the Allocations tab for prior year funds.

Grow Your Own Grant, Informational Session, and Timeline

The GYO Adult and GYO Student grants are now open for new applications. Applications will be open until Jan. 14, 2027, with awards to start July 1, 2027, and run through June 30, 2032. Details are available on the Competitive Grants webpage.

The information session for the Fiscal Year (FY28) GYO competition will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, from 1-2:30 p.m. Register for the FY28 GYO Information Session. For assistance with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact mde.workforcecenter@state.mn.us.

Also, reviewers are needed for the next round of GYO Adult and GYO Student grants. Continuing education credits for teacher or administrator licensure renewal are available for those who review. Grant applications will be available for review in February 2027. Reviewers will have at least two weeks to review and score applications. Please email mde.workforcecenter@state.mn.us with the subject heading “FY28 GYO grant review” to be added to the list of potential reviewers. To help MDE assemble balanced review teams, please include your name, employer, and experience level with 1) the GYO program and 2) with reviewing grants.

MDE Special Education Updates, November 6 | Read more

ONGOING

Individual UMPI Numbers for Paraprofessionals: Update

MASE continues to raise concerns about individual UMPI numbers for paraprofessionals and the additional enrollment, tracking, and updating this would place on districts. We know your plates are already full, and these requirements would add a significant administrative burden. A MDE workgroup is in place to address these questions and concerns, with two members representing MASE. We’ll keep you informed as that work moves forward, with an emphasis on clear guidance, a manageable process, and protecting the third-party billing funds that districts rely on to support students.

Election Update from Lobbyist Valerie Dosland

Next Steps for MASE Members

• Invite your legislators to visit your Setting IV Program before Jan. 12

• Register for the MASE Legislative Advocacy Training on Dec. 3

• Register to attend MASE Day at the Capitol on Feb. 24

• Watch for registration to open soon for Legislative Updates during the session

MASA’s LGBTQ+ Leadership Group Welcomes You!

MASA has an LGBTQ+ Leadership Group facilitated by Dr. Teri Staloch, Superintendent of Robbinsdale Area Schools. The goal of the group is to provide a confidential, supportive space for LGBTQ+ school administrators to connect, share their unique experiences, and engage in meaningful discussions. The affinity group sessions will not be recorded.

The group welcomes MASA, MASE, and non-members who identify as LGBTQ+ to participate in these virtual sessions! Sessions are monthly from 1-2 p.m.

• Wednesday, November 25, 2026

• December (No Meeting)

• Wednesday, January 27, 2027

• Wednesday, February 24, 2027

• Wednesday, March 31, 2027

• Wednesday, April 28, 2027

If you would like to join, reach out to Dave Christians at dave.christians@mnasa.org.

Order Your MASE Gear Now!

MASE 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 with cooler weather in mind:

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

NEW

Opening Doors: A Conversation with PACER

December 11 | Noon-1 p.m. | MASE Members Only

Learn about PACER’s resources and exploring opportunities to work together in support of students and families.

Heather Powell, PACER Executive Director, and Gretchen Godfrey, PACER Associate Director, will make a presentation about their program. There will be Q&A time at the end of the presentation. In the registration process, you will have an opportunity to pose a question in advance so that Heather and Gretchen can be sure to address it.

PACER Center improves educational opportunities and enhances the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. The organization's three main areas of focus are parent training and advocacy, assistive technology solutions, and social inclusion programs.

ONGOING

MASE Member Survey: Deadline Today!

The MASE Membership Committee encourages you to let us know about your experience as a member of our association. What do you find valuable about MASE? How could we improve? The survey can take as little as 2 minutes and up to 10 minutes. Your feedback will help our committee to provide the best possible benefits for all our members. Please respond by EOD today!

CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller

The CASE Collective: Election Results

On Thursday, Nov. 5, Abe Safer, Director of Government Relations for CASE, held a special CASE Collective unpacking the midterm election’s early results. Here are some highlights:

Federal Results:

• The House will have a Democratic majority with at least 255 seats (with 11 still to be called). 

  • This means that Democrats will have 2/3 representation on committees and will hold the Speaker of the House position.

• The Senate will also have a Democratic majority. Right now they hold 55 seats and at this time, Alaska has not been decided.

  • Interestingly, Mississippi does not have a recount process—so a Democrat has been elected to the Senate for the first time since 1989. 

  • It is expected to take up to one month for Alaska to count all their votes due to the remoteness of the state.

  • Another note, 60 votes are needed in the Senate on an issue to avoid a filibuster.

• There will be 117-118 freshman legislators, with 99 in the House and 18-19 in the Senate.

State Results:

• Across the nation, 36 governors and 6,139 legislative seats were up for election. Additionally, there are 20 (up from 16) Democratic trifectas (governor, house, and senate) across the nation with two states to be determined. It’s the biggest swing since Watergate.

• There are 21 new governors in our nation. 

What could we expect as a result of the election?

Federally:

• Repairs to the Department of Education

• Reauthorization of IDEA

• Increase in education funding

• Action regarding education workforce programs

In States:

• Increases in education funding

• Increases in staff to support State Education Agencies

• Access to MA reimbursements

If you attend the CASE Collective or any of Abe's presentations, he includes a number of quotes. Two were especially meaningful to me:

• "The future of the Republic is in the hands of the American voter." – Dwight D. Eisenhower

• "You need to vote because our democracy depends on it." – Barack Obama

What do you do now?

Check out the CASE Legislative Action Center at casecec.org/action-center. You must be logged in.

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.

Also don't forget to register and attend Abraham Thinking. Abe Saffer, Director of Governmental Relations for CASE, continues to host Abraham Thinking on the second Tuesday of each month from 4-5pm CST. The purpose of these sessions is to keep you up-to-date on policy and politics in Washington, D.C., and around the country, provide an opportunity to ask policy and legislative questions you may have, and to share what is happening with CASE. Register on the CASE website.

Invite Legislators to See Your Setting IV Program Before Session

Seclusion has drawn growing attention at the Capitol, including through a 2025 interim working group that MASE took part in. While the group's recommendations did not advance, this issue is likely to return in 2027—and depending on the outcome of the November election, advocates pushing for a ban could find new momentum. Most legislators have limited firsthand knowledge of how seclusion is used, why it exists as a safety tool, and what state law already requires of districts. The weeks between the election and the start of session (January 12) are the best time to change that.

Submit a Proposal for the MASA Spring Conference

The 2027 MASA Spring Conference Call for Proposals is now open! MASA invites you to share your expertise by submitting a proposal for a 60-minute breakout session at the MASA conference, March 18–19, 2027, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park.

The theme, “Grow. Renew. Lead Forward,” focuses on three areas of educational leadership:

Grow: Building capacity in your systems, your staff, and yourself.

Renew: Restoring energy and reimagining what's possible.

Lead Forward: Setting the vision for the year ahead.

MASA encourages proposals featuring practical strategies, innovative approaches, and real-world experiences that Minnesota's educational leaders can apply in their districts.

Important Dates:

Proposal Deadline: Friday, December 11, 2026

Applicant Notifications: By Friday, January 8, 2027

Submit Your Proposal Here!

All proposals will be reviewed by the MASA Executive Development Committee. Selected presenters will receive complimentary conference registration for the day of their presentation. Additional details, including selection criteria and presenter expectations, are available on the MASA Spring Conference website.

Thank you for considering sharing your knowledge and experiences with Minnesota's educational leadership community! Questions? Contact Taylor Ethen at taylor.ethen@mnasa.org.

SLICE of Collaboration: High-Leverage Practices Systemic Use

November 17 | Noon-1 p.m.

Join us at Noon on Tuesday, Nov. 17 for a SLICE of Collaboration! The topic for this session will be related to High-Leverage Practices systemic use, with presenter Nicole Woodward, MASE Legislative Committee Tri-chair and Executive Director at St. Croix River Ed. District. Watch for additional information soon!

Additional SLICE Webinars Open for Registration

• Tuesday, December 1: SEDRA Unraveled, with presenters Cherie Johnson from Goodhue County Ed. District and Deanna Gronseth from Hastings Public Schools

• Tuesday, December 15: Educational Implications When a Student Is Diagnosed with Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV), with presenter Jess Moen, Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Specialist with BrightWorks

• Tuesday, January 5: Legislative READ Act Working Group for Students Who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing, with presenter Kayna Plaisted, Facilitator-READ Act Working Group for Students Who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing

• Tuesday, January 19: IEP Team Guidance when Considering Developmental Cognitive Disability (DCD), Severely Multiply Impaired (SMI) and DeafBlind, with presenter Ann Mayes, Statewide DeafBlind Specialist with BrightWorks

MASE Annual Meeting

Friday, November 20 | Noon-1 p.m. | Webinar

Learn what MASE has been working on in the past year—and what our priorities are for the year ahead in this one-hour webinar. We also expect to vote on a minor change in the MASE Bylaws; additional information will be provided soon. This event is open to members and non-members at no cost.

We will vote on a proposed bylaws change as part of this event.

MASE Day at the Capitol

February 24, 2027 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Special education administrators and leaders from across Minnesota are invited to attend MASE’s 2027 Day at the Capitol in St. Paul. With legislators making important budget and policy decisions in 2027, it is especially important for special education leaders to have a strong presence at the Capitol. This is an opportunity to educate and connect directly with state legislators about the funding, policies, and legislative proposals that affect special education programs, staffing, services, and the students and families that MASE members serve.

Tell Us a Little about Yourself

Have you noticed our Member Spotlights on social media and in MIYM? Now you can also find them in our News section on the MASE website. It’s all so that members get to know more about one another. Thanks to those who have already responded!