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PURPOSE
MASE strives to:
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Offer information that is concise, consistent and predictable to support the work you do in your communities
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Streamline our communications and reduce the number of messages in your mailbox
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A message from Erin Toninato,
MASE Executive Director:
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Happy Friday, everyone!
I hope you were able to enjoy some well-deserved time over the long Labor Day weekend. A little pause before the busy back-to-school rush is always welcome, and I know this week has been full of energy as students and staff get back into routines.
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Behind the scenes at MASE, conference planning is moving full steam ahead, and I’m so looking forward to seeing you at Madden’s this fall. Be sure to register for the Fall Conference—registration is open now! (Details are in today’s MIYM and on the MASE website.)
Wishing you a smooth transition into the school year!
As always...thanks for all you do!
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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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Welcome, Platinum Business Partners!
INDIGO Education
Infinitec UCP-Seguin
Kennedy & Graven, Chartered
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NEW
Wondering What’s Happening in DC?
CASE Collective Has Answers!
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Wondering what is going on in Washington? Yesterday, CASE provided an update during the CASE Collective.
Access the slide deck and learn more: CASE Collective Presentation
MDE Special Education Updates: September 5 | Read it here
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ONGOING
MASE Membership Renewals and Committee Sign-up
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Thanks to all who have renewed already. Important: If you are part of a district with a central billing office, we need to have your billing contact in our system so that they receive notifications if you have chosen the invoice option for your membership (or for conference and event registration).
Be sure to sign up for committees for the 2025-26 year! Go to the Member Compass and click on the Profile tab on the left side of the screen.
Also, if you want to sign up for a CEC/CASE membership and it doesn’t already appear on your invoice, please contact Laurie Pumper at laurie.pumper@mnase.org. It’s an easy fix.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out; staff are all happy to assist!
Reminder: Youth Voice Health and Wellbeing Grant Opportunity
See the Aug. 29 MIYM for full information. Grant submissions are due by September 19, 2025. More information can be found on MDE's Grants webpage.
MDE Ed-Fi Updates: August 25, 2025 | Read it here
MDE Ed-Fi Resources Webpage: August 27, 2025 | Read it here
MDE Special Education Update archive: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/sped/news/
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ONGOING
Register by September 16! MASE New Directors Cohort for 2025-26
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Don’t start your special education director career alone! Meet other new directors, experienced MASE colleagues, and MDE staff, and connect with resources within the special education community. Topics include federal and state special education law, finance and budgeting, state reporting, program topics, and leadership.
The first session for this cohort will be held on Tuesday, September 23 at the MASE office in St. Louis Park. Subsequent sessions will be held each month through May 2026. Some sessions are in person, and some are virtual; some run for a full day, while others are only 90 minutes long.
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MDE Turnkey Toolkit: Boost Form Completion This Back-to-School Season
MDE has made it easy to help boost completion of Applications for Educational Benefits without adding to your workload. This program supports more than just meals—it helps schools unlock federal funding for technology, academic support, and other essential services. But here’s the catch: When eligible families don’t complete the form, the state ends up covering costs that should be paid with federal dollars. Your messaging helps ensure families apply, and that funding flows where it should.
Get your Fill the Form Communication Toolkit.
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Register Now! MDE Special Education Funding Training Webinars
Registration is now open for the following webinars:
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SEDRA 101 Beginners Training Webinar, September 17, 10 a.m.
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SEDRA 220 Advanced Topics and Errors Training Webinar, September 17, 1:30 p.m.
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Special Expenditure Applications for Student Placements (Special Pupils), September 24, 10 a.m.
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Special Education Tuition Billing Overview, October 8, 10 a.m.
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Special Education MEGS Training Webinar, October 22, 10 a.m.
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Get Registered for the CEC & Center on PBIS PD Series
Strategies for Supporting Study Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health
In this free, academic year-long PD series, CEC will host monthly skill-building sessions with the experts from the Center on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports).
This series is a great resource for all educators, so please share with your staff so they can take advantage of this opportunity, so they can either join us every month, or even just pick and choose the topics that apply to them!
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Register Now for the 2025 MASE Fall Leadership Conference
Join the nearly 200 people who are already registered for the Fall Leadership Conference, October 22-24 at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd!
 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHT:
Keynote Presentation from Will Bowen:
Complaint Free: Turning Complainers Into Collaborators
Teachers, principals, superintendents, staff, and even students suffer through a constant barrage of complaints and criticism. Social media amplifies this relentless negativity, causing once-passionate educators to become disillusioned, demoralized, and disengaged. But, there’s hope! Thousands of schools worldwide have used Complaint Free® Schools strategies to improve morale, increase community involvement, and build bridges of positive communication.
In this engaging and inspiring presentation, you’ll learn how to:
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Channel Negative Complaints Into Positive Collaboration.
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Create Cooperative And Constructive Conversations Between Parents, Teachers, Students, and Staff.
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Respond To Every Complaint Perfectly Using Just One Simple Sentence
This presentation teaches educators how to enjoy less stress, more cooperation, and happier schools.
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Register Now for the CASE Conference
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The CASE Conference in Oklahoma City is right around the corner—November 5-7 in Oklahoma City to celebrate 50 years of the IDEA. CASE puts on a great conference and it is well worth your time to attend. If you are interested, you can find registration and hotel information on the CASE website. Many people attended the conference last year and we would love to have another big group from Minnesota in OKC!
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Welcome, Silver Business Partners!
TILL360
Myna Therapy Services
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ONGOING:
Job Posting: K-12 Content Lead, Special Education Dept. | Minneapolis Public Schools
Submit Your MASE Moments of Awe
Record and share your “MASE Moments of Awe.” These are the stories—the glimmers—that highlight the beauty and importance of what we do. Read the full story at our website!
Why Belong to CASE?
MASE members have the option to join CEC/CASE, the Council of Administrators of Special Education. Being part of CASE isn't just about accessing resources—it’s about stepping into a community that champions your leadership journey:
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Your voice influences national policy.
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Your growth is fueled by flexible, world-class learning.
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Your efficiency improves with curated tools and discounts.
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Your network expands, deepening support for you and your work.
Whether you’re new to CASE or a long-standing member, there’s always a new opportunity to advocate, learn, connect, and lead. Explore all programs, benefits, and updates on the website—or let Melissa Schaller know if you’d like help highlighting a specific event or opportunity in future newsletters!
You can also learn more here.
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CASE/CEC Open Resources:
NEW:
The first 60 Minutes with Myrna will be held on Tuesday, September 9, from 4 to 5 p.m. CDT. CASE members can find the registration link in "members only" and then Policy and Advocacy/CASE Policy and Legislative Suite. For those new to CASE, this is a monthly update about what is happening in special education in Washington. It is a much-loved benefit of CASE!
ONGOING:
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Helpful Links
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