Member Survey: Identifying Cost Savings in Minnesota Special Education

Last session, the legislature established a Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to advise and assist the legislature and governor in transforming special education services.

The purpose of the commission is to develop an action plan for transforming special education services while maintaining a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities by Oct. 1, 2026. Tied to the work of this commission is the expectation to find $250 million in savings or cross-subsidy aid will be reduced by the same amount in the FY28-29 biennium.

The work of the commission is guided by the following goals:

Goal 1: Increase administrative efficiencies and improve program collaboration to promote shared services.

Goal 2: Reduce special education expenditures, including identifying strategies for addressing the significant cost drivers of state spending on special education.

Goal 3: Reducing paperwork, using data to drive individualized education programs, increase access to qualified personnel, and eliminate gaps in early identification and early intervention.

Goal 4: Reform special education funding formulas to incentivize efficient, inclusive practices, increase flexibility in how special education funds are used, align third-party billing practices to maximize reimbursements, and streamline reporting burdens that add value.

Goal 5: Slow cost growth in special education services while maintaining a free appropriate public education.

To assist the MASE members serving on the commission, we are seeking your ideas for cost-savings to help guide the discussion.

Please complete this SURVEY by January 9, 2026.