NEW

Minnesota Setting IV Program Leaders’ Meetings

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:

• October 8, 2026 | 8:30–10 a.m.

• December 10, 2026 | 8:30–10 a.m.

• February 11, 2027 | 8:30–10 a.m.

• April 8, 2027 | 8:30–10 a.m.

Having Trouble Logging in on the MASE Site?

If you are having trouble logging into the MASE website, please don’t create a new record. Contact the MASE office, and we should be able to get you back in within 24 to 48 hours (not counting weekends or holidays).

Minnesota Kids Rise Featured on KSTP-TV

Erica Allenburg from the Minnesota School Board Association was on Twin Cities Live on Sept. 2 to talk about “I’m a Minnesota Kid Day,” which was held on Sept. 3 at the State Fair. Erica shared that Minnesota schools are getting excellent results, are major employers in the state, and are preparing tomorrow’s workforce.

MDE School Mental Health Resources

The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time for students, families, and staff. This excitement may also come with feelings of worry or anxiety. Child Mind Institute has some helpful ideas on back-to-school anxiety and tips for how to help kids manage worries and have a successful start to the school year. Additionally, Elena Aguilar, author of Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators and host of The Bright Morning Podcast has a brief webinar on eight ways educators can build emotional resilience. MDE also has many resources for families in the Back-to-School Toolkit, including resources for supporting student health and mental health.

Here are a few items from last week’s newsletter, along with some new ones!

MDE School Mental Health Office Hours

MDE's Mental Health Lead serves as a source of information and support for schools in addressing the mental health needs of students, teachers, and school staff and developing comprehensive school mental health systems in schools and districts. The Mental Health Lead hosts monthly office hours to provide technical assistance to schools, districts, and charters who have questions about supporting student mental health and educator well-being needs. Register here: MDE School Mental Health Office Hours Registration.

Trauma Informed Approach to Early Childhood Practice Modules

MDE has developed this asynchronous course in collaboration with the Child Health and Development Institute to support early childhood professionals in using trauma-informed practices. Through this asynchronous course, participants will learn to recognize, identify, and address the potential impacts and effects of trauma to better understand the children and families they work with and support them in the ways they need. Modules available include:

• Foundation Course 

• Leadership Advanced Course

• Classroom-based Practice

• Early Intervention Advanced Practice

PREPaRE Workshop 1: Comprehensive School Safety Planning

MDE and the Minnesota School Safety Center are hosting the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) PREPaRE Workshop 1: Comprehensive School Safety Planning: Prevention Through Recovery course. In this one-day workshop, participants will learn how to establish and sustain comprehensive school safety efforts that attend to both physical and psychological safety. The workshop addresses critical components needed to develop, exercise, and evaluate safety and crisis teams and plans and conduct building vulnerability assessments. The model also integrates school personnel and community provider roles in providing school-based crisis preparedness and response activities. Additional topics include media/social media, communication, reunification, students with special needs, culture, and memorials. Check out the NASP Training Curriculum website for more info.

Three different training dates and locations are available. For more information, visit the training listing on MDE’s School Safety Center website.

Resilient Schools Series: Trauma Informed Strategies that Work

MDE is sponsoring a free Resilient Schools Webinar Series to provide professional development on the current best practices for trauma-informed and healing-centered school settings. Sessions will be facilitated by experts and practitioners from across Minnesota. Earn up to 20.5 continuing education hours—join for one session or all! More information and registration links are available here: Resilient Schools Series session descriptions and registration. For questions or assistance registering, contact Megan Lagasse, LICSW, Student Support Personnel Specialist at megan.lagasse@state.mn.us.

The Admin and Student Support Personnel Relationship: When We Align, Students Win

Intentional and aligned collaboration is the foundation for strong student outcomes, and every school has a powerful but often underutilized advantage: the partnership between administrators and student support personnel. When this relationship is aligned, schools move from isolated efforts to cohesive systems that truly support every student. This interactive session from IgnitED Consulting opens the playbook of practical strategies to strengthen that partnership. Participants will move beyond ideas and into action as they explore how to clarify roles, align efforts, and build effective systems. Throughout the session, participants will reflect on their current practices, engage in structured conversations, and begin building a shared vision for stronger alignment. The session will be held on October 8, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Register here: When We Align, Students Win: The Admin and Student Support Personnel Relationship.

Support to Students Exposed to Trauma Training Modules Available

Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET) training is a targeted mental health intervention for students who have been exposed to a traumatic event and who are experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Delivered by nonclinical school personnel, this intervention is appropriate for students in grade 5 and above. MDE is offering free access to the 4-hour online training program for this evidence-based mental health intervention. If you are interested, fill out this SSET Request Form, or email School.MentalHealth.MDE@state.mn.us for more information. Free access to Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and Bounce Back will be available soon!

MDE Special Education Updates, September 4 | Read more

ONGOING

Compliance Reminder from U.S. Department of Education on Membership Dues and Federal Grant Funds

Last year, the U.S. Department of Education sent many districts a letter reiterating that federal grant funds may not be used to pay membership dues if any portion of those dues supports lobbying activities.

Because nonprofit organizations, including professional associations like ours, often use a portion of dues to contract for lobbying services, districts must not code MASE membership dues to federal special education funds.

Please review your district’s accounting practices to ensure compliance with this federal requirement. Membership dues should be charged only to appropriate, non-federal funding sources. MASE estimates that 25% of its Government Relations contract is allocable to direct lobbying, representing 2.56% of total dues, which is non-deductible as a business expense under IRC §162(e).

View the full Department of Education letter

Blue Ribbon Commission Draft Recommendations Call for $255 Million in Special Education Reductions

In the 2025 legislative session, the legislature established a Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on Special Education charged with developing a plan to transform special education services while maintaining a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. Additionally, the legislature charged the BRC with the difficult task of identifying $250 million in cuts to the state special education budget. Without the identification of $250 million in savings, the reduction will be taken from cross-subsidy aid.

Order Your MASE Gear Now for Fall Events!

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:

MDE Special Education Funding Training Webinars

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.

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

NEW

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. This event is open to members and non-members at no cost.

ONGOING

Your Opinion Matters, So CEC Is Asking: Would You Attend This?

CEC is exploring the idea of creating a new series that would allow you to view 15-minute demonstrations featuring products, services, and programs from our partners all related to one subject. The subject could be anything from math instruction to IEPs or graduate programs for educators in special education.

Before CEC builds the lineup, though, we are reaching out to community members like you who have attended CEC webinars before to see if this is something you'd be interested in attending.

CASE Updates from Melissa Schaller

For a few weeks my update has led 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.” This continues to ring true following our time in Washington in July. While the issues are critical, we are committed as are the delegation of congresswomen and men representing Minnesota.

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!

Abraham Thinking

Abe Saffer, Director of Governmental Relations for CASE, 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.

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.

Make Your Room Reservations Soon!

If you haven’t already made your room registration with Madden’s, do it soon! The deadline is September 21 or when space is full—and we almost always fill the space before the deadline. Make your reservation online or call Madden’s at 1-800-642-5363.

We will announce our breakout sessions in the weeks ahead. More than 220 people are already registered for this year’s conference. We are tracking ahead of last year’s record attendance—don’t miss out!

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.

Exhibit booths are going fast—only ONE space is still open! Boost your visibility at the conference even more with a sponsorship. We’ve already sold several of our top tier sponsorships, but these are some opportunities that are available right now:

• Mobile App Sponsor: Logo and link on MASE Fall Leadership Conference website and recognition on conference signage; includes 2 attendee registrations for the conference

• Headshot Station Sponsor: Logo and link on MASE Fall Leadership Conference website and recognition on conference signage; includes 1 attendee registration for the conference

• Keynote Sponsor: Sponsor may introduce the speaker and give a quick intro to your company; logo and link on MASE Fall Leadership Conference website and recognition on conference signage; includes 1 attendee registration for the conference

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!