Special Education
The Division of Assistance and Compliance oversees the implementation of certain state and federal education laws and resources to assist school districts and parents in complying with these laws. Information on these topics have been incorporated into this section, for your convenience.
Minnesota's Olmstead Plan
Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan is a broad series of key activities our state must accomplish to ensure people with disabilities are living, learning, working, and enjoying life in the most integrated setting. The plan will help achieve a better Minnesota because it will help Minnesotans with disabilities have better opportunities. Learn more about Minnesota's Olmstead Plan.-
Paraprofessional Credential Competency Grid - 2/20/24
Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) form for inclusion in personnel files, future information and reference -
Proclamation: Inclusive Schools Week 2023 - 12/4/23
Governor Walz's proclamation of December 4-10, 2023 as Inclusive Schools Week in Minnesota -
- 6/20/23
Amendments effective for the 2023-24 school year unless otherwise noted -
- 6/12/23
Amendments effective July 1, 2023 -
A Guide to Educational Low Vision Practices in Minnesota: Appendices - 5/17/23
a resource for teacher dialogue -
A Guide to Educational Low Vision Practices in Minnesota: A Resource for Teacher Dialogue - 5/17/23
a framework for delivering educational services to students with low vision in order to improve student outcomes -
Fiscal Year (FY) 23 Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) Minutes January 20, 2023 - 5/2/23
Fiscal Year (FY) 23 Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) Minutes January 20, 2023 -
Tips Relating to the New Special Education Recovery Services and Supports Law - 11/5/21
Information and guidance for districts and charters on required meetings, considerations and funding sources -
House File 2: Special Education Recovery Services and Supports Tracker - 11/3/21
Use this Excel spreadsheet to record the number of students receiving additional or compensatory services and the costs of those services for the 2021-22 school year. -
- 10/20/21
Evaluations, reporting, fiscal implications -
Frequently Asked Questions: Online Learning and Students with Disabilities - 10/12/21
Responses to frequently asked questions about online learning and students with disabilities to assist school districts and charter schools in continuing to provide equitable access to online learning programs and high-quality special education and related services. -
Frequently Asked Questions: The Start of the 2021-22 School Year and the New Minnesota Special Education Recovery Services Law - 9/9/21
To assist school districts and charter schools in continuing to provide equitable access to high-quality special education and related services and to support families of students with disabilities and school districts and charter schools as they address the impact of disruptions to in-person instruction related to the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Guidance for Part C/Early Intervention and the Application of Special Education Recovery Services and Supports - 9/2/21
Federal guidance, state statutory requirements and other considerations for special education recovery services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. -
Special Education Division Contributes to MDE Strategic Plan and Aligns with MDE Internal Priorities - 9/1/21
How the work and plans of the Special Education Division contribute to the overall Minnesota Department of Education strategic plan and its internal priorities. -
General Guidance for Special Education Recovery Services and Supports - 8/18/21
Requirements of Minnesota Session Laws – 2021, Chapter 13, Article 5, Section 1 for school districts and charter schools; funding sources -
Updated Guide to Addressing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students with Disabilities - 7/22/21
Assistance for school districts, charter schools, and parents in making determinations of appropriate services for students with disabilities related to their disrupted education or inability to access appropriate special education and related services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated July 2021 to incorporate special education recovery services and supports. -
- 3/25/20
Legal requirements and factors to consider. -
- 9/26/19
overviews, data, goals and contacts for division programs -
Special Education Fact Sheet - 8/27/19
Special Education Division foundation statements, outcome data, goals and service eligibility -
Minnesota Low Incidence Projects memo - 4/29/19
memo to schools regarding low incidence projects - effective April 2019 -
- 9/24/18
Mission, vision, guiding principles and values -
- 8/28/17
Hyperlinked list of acronyms used in special education.
stay connected: