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From the Executive Director,
Erin Toninato:
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What Comes Next
October begins with an important milestone in Minnesota special education as the Blue Ribbon Commission submits its recommendations (see the first article in the “KNOW” section of today’s newsletter. The work was heavy—members were asked to identify significant reductions while knowing the impact those decisions could have on students, staff, and districts.
I am especially grateful to MASE members Dan Armagost, Erin Lavery, and Melanie Kray for taking on this difficult work and bringing the realities of our members, students, and schools to the table. I am hopeful the Legislature will hear the Commission’s concerns and repeal the requirement for these cuts.
MASE will review the final recommendations closely and share more as the conversation moves forward.
For now, I hope you can enjoy the changing colors and find a little time for a cup of something hot (coffee!) that is still warm when you get to it.
As always...thanks for all you do!
*Fun fact from this book lover: The quote I used this week struck me because Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favorite books. I have a copy that was my grandmother's, then my mom's, and has been mine for over 50 years—it is 100+ years old and has been well loved by us all! ♥️
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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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Thanks to Our Platinum Business Partners!
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Everway
Goalbook
Indigo Education
Infinitec
Kennedy & Graven
Kraus-Anderson
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Next Level Speech Therapy
Sourcewell
SpEd Forms
Strategic Behavioral Solutions
Strategic Staffing Solutions
Work Life Ready
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Blue Ribbon Commission Report Released
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PELSB R-4863 Rulemaking Update
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On September 28, 2026, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB or Board) published a notice in the State Register announcing its intent to adopt changes to the rules relating to teacher licensure, renewal, and other legislative requirements (Minnesota Rules 8705.1010, 8705.2100, 8705.2200, 8705.2600, 8710.0310, 8710.0311, 8710.0312, 8710.0313, 8710.0314, 8710.0320, 8710.0321, 8710.0326, 8710.0330, 8710.0500, 8710.2100, 8710.3000, 8710.3350, 8710.4100, 8710.4810 (Proposed New Rule), 8710.4815 (Proposed New Rule), 8710.4875 (Proposed New Rule), 8710.6000, 8710.6200, 8710.6400, 8710.7200, 8710.7500 (Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board - MN Rules)). The notice, referred to as the Dual Notice, is available in the link below and in the State Register (Minnesota State Register / Minnesota.gov).
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Update: December 1, 2026, Federal Child Count
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The special education child count data reporting process through the Minnesota Automated Reporting Student System (MARSS) has been completed for the September 17, 2026, reporting deadline. Students included in child count must be reported on MARSS with a Special Education Evaluation Status (SEES) of 4 or 6. Refer to the MARSS Reference Guide for definitions of the SEES. Report 13 has been posted to the website and can be accessed at the following location:
Data Center > Data Reports and Analytics > Minnesota Funding Reports (MFR)
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CAREI District Assembly Research Watch
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Effective support is not a one-size-fits-all. Leaders should ensure that instruction, scaffolding, and coaching are matched to students’ needs, the skill being taught, and the specific responsibilities of the adults providing support.
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Strong relationships are essential to successful implementation. High-quality teacher-student interactions, effective staff collaboration, visible administrator support, and trusted community partnerships all influence whether improvement efforts succeed and are sustained.
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One-time professional development is rarely enough to change practice. Leaders should prioritize job-embedded coaching, protected collaboration time, actionable feedback, and ongoing use of data to strengthen implementation.
Looking ahead
CAREI’s 2026–27 Professional Learning Catalog is now live!
Explore upcoming opportunities designed to help educators and leaders translate research into stronger instruction, more effective systems, and improved student outcomes.
Additional learning opportunities will be offered throughout the school year. Watch for registration details and new ways to connect with CAREI’s team members!
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MDE Special Education Updates, September 28 | Read more
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MASE Members Are Welcome at MASA Leadership Groups
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The following Leadership Groups that are offered by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) are open to all MASE members—you do not need to hold MASA membership. This is a wonderful benefit of belonging to MASE.
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Women's Leadership Sessions — with Dr. Stacie Stanley: Register here
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BIPOC Leadership Sessions — with Dr. Bernadeia Johnson: Register here
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LGBTQ+ Leadership Sessions — with Dr. Teri Staloch: Register here
MASA is also offering a webinar on Oct. 8 that may be of interest. From Requirement to Readiness: Navigating Minnesota’s New School Safety Law will be presented by two representatives of the Sandy Hook Promise along with three Minnesota school administrators. Join Sandy Hook Promise to break down what the new law means for schools, learn how the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System can support compliance and implementation, and hear directly from Minnesota district leaders about their experience bringing the program to their school communities.
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MDE Convenes Task Force to Review Statewide Standardized Tests & Recommend Modernization
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The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has announced a new 28-member task force charged with reviewing Minnesota’s standardized testing and assessment framework and identifying recommendations for future modernization and reform. MDE’s Testing and Assessment Task Force comes on the heels of a national conversation about standardized testing efficacy.
Currently, Minnesota’s assessment system relies on single-administration standardized tests that provide limited instructional value. Feedback from educators, school leaders, students, parents, and elected officials of all political persuasions reflects consensus on the need for a more adaptive, timely, and informative system that is relevant to modern curriculum, promotes alternative pathways to learning, and provides more actionable data. Learn more about the task force on MDE’s Statewide Testing page on their website.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on October 9, 2026.
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MASE Finance Academy: Register Now!
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Join us for one of four in-person, full-day Finance Academy sessions in three locations around the state—and/or attend one or more one-hour virtual Finance Academy sessions. The content for all of the in-person sessions is the same, but each of the three virtual sessions addresses a different topic. Our first virtual session is scheduled for October 27, and our first in-person session is scheduled for November 17 at Sourcewell in Staples, Minn.
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Minnesota Setting IV Program Leaders’ Meetings
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October 8, 2026 | 8:30–10 a.m.
Minnesota Setting IV program leaders are invited to participate in a series of virtual meetings designed to bring leaders from federal Setting IV programs together to connect, ask questions, discuss topics of shared interest, and exchange resources, ideas, and strategies.
These meetings provide an opportunity to learn from colleagues across the state, share experiences, and collaborate around the unique opportunities and challenges of leading Setting IV programs.
2026–27 Meeting Dates:
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October 8, 2026 | 8:30–10 a.m.
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December 10, 2026 | 8:30–10 a.m.
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February 11, 2027 | 8:30–10 a.m.
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April 8, 2027 | 8:30–10 a.m.
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Order Your MASE Gear Now for Fall Events!
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MASE offers a variety of T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, and other merchandise. Show your MASE spirit at our Fall Leadership Conference and other events! Merchandise will be shipped directly to you. Here are just a few of the options available with cooler weather in mind:
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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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Thanks to Our Gold Business Partner!
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Ratwick, Roszak & Maloney
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Special Education Directors’ Forum, October 9
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Special Education Directors' Forum is a full-day event filled with essential learning, updates, and community gathering. Registration is required to confirm your attendance and preferred format. Please complete the registration form to let MDE know how you plan to attend and to register for the afternoon breakout sessions. If you have any questions, please email the Division of Special Education (mde.special-ed@state.mn.us).
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Are You Ready to BINGO?!?
The Minnesota Special Education Leadership Foundation (MNSELF) will have a Bingo fundraiser on Thursday, October 22, 2026, starting at 7:25 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Town Hall Conference Center at Madden's on Gull Lake. Join us for this fun event at the MASE Fall Conference!
MNSELF Purpose: MNSELF promotes opportunities for leaders in special education by supporting innovative professional development to enhance leadership skills.
MNSELF is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3): a charitable nonprofit organization created to raise funds to sponsor leadership training for current and aspiring directors of special education.
Doors will open at 7:25 p.m., with Bingo games beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and include 10 games of Bingo. Tickets will be available at the MNSELF booth in Town Hall Conference Center Lobby on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Participants may purchase additional games. Remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door on Thursday evening.
There will be fabulous prizes—including designer handbags, nifty coolers, gift cards, and more. Additionally, there will be door prizes and a great raffle ticket prize!
Enjoy an evening with colleagues while supporting the mission of MNSELF. Participation is limited to 150 attendees, and tickets are expected to sell out quickly!
Please see the Bingo Flyer 2026 and bingo rules.
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CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller
Abraham Thinking
Abe Saffer, Director of Governmental Relations for CASE, hosted the first Abraham Thinking on September 8. 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. This is scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month from 4-5pm CST. Register on the CASE website.
Last month, Abe shared three themes in Washington, D.C.: uncertainty, systematic constraints, and polarization. Some details include the physical movement of Education Department staff to other agency buildings. This is occurring even though no details are being released about the plans to implement IAAs. There has been some congressional action on IAAs, one in the House to codify IAAs, but not the moves of OSERS and OCR, and another in both the House and Senate to stop the IAAs affecting the Education Department. While it is not believed these will pass, the authors are appropriators—so we could see action with budget bills.
In news on federal education funding, I'm including a few screen grabs (see our blog post) that summarize what’s happening. While 17% is the closest to full (40%) funding we've ever reached, with the exception of one year during the recession, currently we sit at about 10.9%.
Look for potential new rules from OMB and changes to EDGAR regarding federal grants. If you are interested in federal grants available, the place to look will be grants.gov.
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What can you do?
Check out the new 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.
Renew Your Membership
With MASE membership renewals in progress through Sept. 30, 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!
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. If you are attending, there will be a state unit night—so don't forget to bring your MASE gear. If you are interested in CASE gear, check out their sale.
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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.
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Our Deadline Is Coming Soon—Don’t Miss Out!
More than 300 people are already registered for our conference at Madden’s. But time is running out for you to reserve your spot at the event—our registration deadline is Monday, October 12!
Be sure to check out our breakout session schedule. Here are a few of the sessions that are confirmed:
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Building an Acuity-Based Staffing Model for Equitable Special Education Services
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Data-Rich, Decision-Ready: Using Behavioral Progress Monitoring Data to Drive Student Impact
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Leading with Purpose: Maintaining Safety and Special Education Services During Community Crisis
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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.
All our exhibit booths are sold! You can still boost your visibility at the conference with a sponsorship. We’ve already sold several of our top tier sponsorships, but here 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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Keynote Sponsor: Logo and link on MASE Fall Leadership Conference website and recognition on conference signage, may introduce speaker and give a 1-2 minute intro about your company; includes 1 attendee registration for the conference
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Lunch 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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🎉 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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Permanent School Fund Resources
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The Minnesota Permanent School Fund is not widely understood and yet is an important part of Minnesota’s public education financing. With the November ballot question, Minnesota’s public education leaders are the critical cog in the effort to educate the public because you are the most trusted source of information in your local communities. View all the resources at www.mnpsfamendment.org.
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Help Grow Your Special Education Team
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Do you have paraprofessionals, Tier 1 or Tier 2 teachers, or other staff members who have talked about going back to school or earning additional licensure? Please consider sharing this opportunity directly with them!
This program may be a great next step for staff who are ready to continue their education, work toward teacher licensure, or add an additional area of licensure. As special education leaders, your encouragement can make a meaningful difference in helping staff see themselves taking that next step.
Please forward this information to individuals on your team who may be interested and encourage them to learn more.
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Advanced Placement Program Exam Reimbursement 2026-27
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The Advanced Placement program provides opportunities for rigorous, challenging learning as part of the regular course offerings for public and non-public students in secondary schools. The Minnesota Legislature has appropriated funding to provide financial incentives to schools for student exam subsidies and teacher training for the Advanced Placement program. Visit the MDE Calendar to register for the Advanced Placement State Reimbursement Overview session.
View the Advanced Placement Student Exam Fee Policy and Payment Procedures webpage for more information.
Please contact mde.postsecondary@state.mn.us for assistance with any questions.
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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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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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