MASE in Your Mailbox - October 23, 2026

Thanks for a Wonderful Fall Leadership Conference!

More than 340 people attended the MASE Fall Leadership Conference—a big thanks to all our attendees, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors! We will share more information and photos in next week’s newsletter and on social media, but here are a few pictures to show the engagement and fun.

✨ Stenswick-Benson Scholarship Recipients ✨

Congratulations to this year’s Stenswick-Benson Scholarship recipients:

• Nadia Benner, Sojourner Truth Academy, University of St. Thomas
• Moemen Ibrahim, St. Paul Public Schools, University of St. Thomas
• Sharri McGibbon, Intermediate School District 917, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Cara McGlynn, Northeast Metro 916 ISD, Hamline University
• Stephanie Ross, Riverbend Education District, Concordia University St. Paul
• Brenda Walker, Edina Public Schools, University of Minnesota

The Stenswick-Benson Scholarships are awarded annually to graduate students completing exemplary study in the field of special education leadership. The program began in 1991 and recognizes the legacy of leaders within special education as represented by Ellsworth Stenswick from Bloomington and Loren Benson from Hopkins, both considered special education pioneers. These fine colleagues and their families wanted to make a lasting contribution to our field. A sincere thank you to our scholarship committee chair, Michelle Bethke-Kaliher, Director of Student Support Services for Alexandria Public Schools and everyone who volunteered to read scholarship applications.

✨ 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.

Thanks to Our Platinum Business Partners!

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NEW

State Fiscal Year 2027 Deductions for State Services for the Blind

The SSB spreadsheet is now posted to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website. Select the following from each drop-down menu: Category: Special Education; Subcategory: State Services for the Blind; Year: 2027. Click List files, then the xlsx icon under Data Files. The spreadsheet shows districts that, on their Federal Special Education Application Cover Sheet for SFY 2027, authorized MDE to withhold funds for SSB. This agreement with SSB runs through June 30, 2027. The purpose of these funds is to provide braille textbooks/materials and audiotape materials to districts participating under this agreement for students requiring these materials as part of their education.

Recommendations from the Compensatory Revenue Task Force

Compensatory revenue provides funding to support students who are academically underprepared and at risk of not meeting academic standards. The 2025 Minnesota Legislature created a Compensatory Revenue Task Force to analyze the general education compensatory revenue formula, including the purpose of the program, the revenue levels of the program, the distribution formula for the revenue, the uses of compensatory revenue, and methods to evaluate the outcomes of compensatory revenue spending.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) convened this group of school and nonprofit leaders and legislators from September 2025 through October 2026. The Task Force has published its recommendations: Compensatory Revenue Task Force Final Report. MDE thanks the members of the Task Force for their efforts.

MDE Special Education Updates, October 16 | Read more

MDE Ed-Fi Updates, October 19 | Read more

Load of State Fiscal Year 2027 Estimated Allocations | Read more

ONGOING

MASE Finance Academy: Register Now for Next Week’s Virtual Session!

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.

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

Thanks to Our Gold Business Partner!

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NEW

Help Shape the Future of EIDBI Services in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Disability Services Division, is recruiting new members for both the EIDBI Learning Collaborative and the EIDBI Advisory Group.

EIDBI providers and stakeholders who are passionate about improving services and outcomes for children and families are encouraged to apply!

EIDBI Learning Collaborative

A small, focused group of provider representatives, autism researchers and educators who meet monthly to share insights, review emerging research and stay informed about EIDBI service updates. One-year and two-year terms are available, beginning in 2026.

Application deadline: Nov. 1, 2026

Email ASD.DHS@state.mn.us to request an application.

Learn more

EIDBI Advisory Group

Interested in contributing to the ongoing improvement of EIDBI services? Review the announcement for information about Advisory Group membership, application requirements and how to apply.

Learn more

Your experience and perspective matter! Consider applying or sharing this opportunity with others who want to help strengthen EIDBI services across Minnesota.

#MinnesotaEIDBI #AutismServices #EarlyIntervention #StakeholderEngagement

ONGOING

CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller

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.

This month, Abe updated us on the election. It will be important to watch the races closely. There are opportunities for seats to flip. This may be more likely in the House than the Senate.

All OSERS staff are now working out of the Health and Human Services building and Kirsten Baesler has been appointed the acting assistant secretary of OSERS, among other responsibilities. As for the interagency agreement that moved OSERS, while there were several bills, the most likely opportunity for reversal will be a funding bill—and that wouldn’t occur until after the election, as there is a continuing resolution to fund the government in place until December 11, 2026.

As for new rules from OMB and changes to EDGAR regarding federal grants, these were tied to the continuing resolution for funding, so any changes will not take place until at least after December 11, 2026. There are significant concerns regarding both of these proposals.

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.

MASE Member Survey

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.

SLICE of Collaboration: Everything You Wanted to Know about Criteria but Were Afraid to Ask

November 3 | Noon-1 p.m.

Presenter: Heidi Halker from Itasca Area Schools Cooperative (Area B)

Understanding where Minnesota’s special education criteria come from can make the MDE checklists feel a whole lot less mysterious! This presentation takes a look at the “why” behind the criteria by connecting the MDE checklists back to Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Administrative Rules. Once you have a better sense of that foundation, the checklists can become easier to read, interpret, and use thoughtfully. Most importantly, understanding the origins of the criteria helps teams move beyond simply checking boxes and toward making informed eligibility decisions together—using the evaluation information, the requirements, and the professional judgment of the entire team.

Thanks to our Sponsor for this session, Next Level Speech Therapy

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.

Annual School Law Seminar

Friday, October 30, 2026 | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center, MN

For over 39 years, Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney has held a School Law Seminar, free of charge, informing schools of the most significant changes in school law and providing practical advice on the issues schools may encounter during the upcoming school year. Learn more at www.ratwiklaw.com.

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.

🎉 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!

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!

Thanks to Our Silver Business Partners!

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NEW

CAREI Seeks Members for 2026-27 District Assembly

Organized by the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), District Assembly is a national network that enables education leaders to strengthen systems through executive-level professional learning and evidence-based support. A single annual membership provides team-wide access to the member portal, monthly issues of District Assembly Research Watch, implementation tools, and four virtual learning sessions. The first session starts on November 5 with a deep dive into literacy and mathematics coherence.

MASE Award Nominations Are Open Now!

Each year, MASE provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding members who are dedicated leaders and advocates for children and education communities across the state. We encourage you to consider nominating yourself or a colleague for recognition. Nominate someone who reflects the qualities of a leader committed to education and who is an exemplary representative of MASE. Please remember that anyone can nominate for MASE awards—but the nominees must be current MASE members (except for the Distinguished Service Award). Please feel free to share award nomination information with your staff and community. Information about each of the awards is linked below:

• Distinguished Service Award
• Legacy Award
• New Special Education Leader Award
• Special Education Administrator of the Year Award

MASE Award candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by someone else.

Nomination Deadline is December 30, 2026.

ONGOING

Help Grow Your Special Education Team

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.

Helpful Links

• MASE in Your Mailbox Archive
• MASE Calendar
• CASE Website
• CASE Weekly Updates Archive
• Special Education Directors E-News Archive

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