Special EducationLearning Support : Minnesota Department of Education

Special Education

Current Topics

Special Education Primer for Charter Schools

The Minnesota Department of Education is pleased to announce the availability of a new resource for the delivery of special education and related services in charter schools. The Minnesota Special Education Primer for Charter Schools is now available. View the Primer

Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Programs Selected

Fifty-seven Minnesota school districts, charter schools and educational service cooperatives have been selected for early intervention programming for the 2008-2009 school year. They will provide instruction and services to students who need additional academic and behavioral supports to succeed in the general education environment and who may eventually qualify for special education if the prevention services were not available. For more information contact Cammy Lehr at (651) 582-8563 or e-mail cammy.lehr@state.mn.us. View the list of selected schools here.

Paraprofessional Requirements for Title 1

Paraprofessionals working in Title 1 schools, (including paraprofessionals working in special education in those schools) are required to demonstrate that they meet the requirements established under No Child Left Behind. This can be accomplished with an 1) AA, AS, AAS (or higher) degree, 2) a minimum number of postsecondary academic credits, 3) a passing score on the ParaPro test, 4) demonstrating paraprofessional core competencies by local district validation of a portfolio, or 5)demonstration of skill using Para eLink. For complete information on these various options, visit NCLB Information for Paraprofessionals.  To learn more about the ParaPro test, calendar and test sites, visit ETS ParaPro test information Website.

Minnesota Annual Performance Report, Part B, 2007-2008

Each year the State of Minnesota is required by the Federal Office of Special Education Programs to submit an Annual Performance Report for students with disabilities ages 3-21. Topics covered include graduation, dropout, and suspension/expulsion rates; performance on statewide tests; and special education settings. Data is used by schools for program improvement. View full 07-08 report.

Financial Support for Certain Special Education Teachers to Take a Praxis II Exam

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is providing a one-time opportunity during the 2008-2009  testing cycles for certain special education teachers who need to take a Praxis II content test in mathematics, language arts or science. MDE will pay the test and registration fee directly to Educational Testing Service (ETS) for one (1) of the specified Minnesota-adopted Praxis II content tests for individuals approved by MDE to participate.  View complete test information. 

State Personnel Development Grant

In October 2005, the Special Education Policy Section of the Minnesota Department of Education received a $967,000 State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG), renewable for up to five years, from the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the grant is to link the best scientifically-based practices to states, school systems and families to improve results for infants, toddlers and children with disabilities. If you wish to learn more about SPDG and its activities please contact Minnesota’s SPDG Coordinator Martha Corn at 651-582-8462. View Complete SPDG Grant.

Part B Federal Regulations Update

Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has announced the final regulations to implement Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). The official copy of the final Part B regulations of the IDEA has been published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006.  * View IDEA 2004 final version. 

Special Education Statutes and Rules

Access links to federal and state statues and rules on special education. MDE makes no representations about any services offered by sites it links to, nor is it responsible for the content of those sites. Please be aware that the laws set forth below may have been revised since this site was last updated.

 

*Links to third-party sites are provided as a service to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Website visitors. See our disclaimer regarding these sites in our copyright information linked at the bottom of this page. Links will open in a new browser window.