📖Reading Mastery Curriculum Coaching Opportunities Now Available!

We are excited to offer vendor-provided coaching sessions designed to support all aspects of Reading Mastery implementation. These individualized sessions can include:

✅ Instructional planning
✅ Troubleshooting & workflow support
✅ Using student data to drive instruction
✅ Differentiation strategies
✅ Classroom management within the program
✅ Progress monitoring guidance

Whether you’re new to Reading Mastery or looking to deepen your practice, these coaching opportunities are a great way to get targeted, high-impact support. Please fill out this google survey to indicate interest in receiving coaching support.

‼️Potential Impacts of Discontinuation of Special Education and Related Services 

When a family is requesting to discontinue special education services for a student, please ensure that they have been informed of the following implications: 

1. Students will be placed in general education and will receive no special education services, including special education accommodations, special education classes, special education job coaching with applicable credits, or special education transportation.

2. If students are attending school outside their attendance area, students will no longer be bussed outside that attendance area. If the parent chooses to have his/her child remain at the school the student attended before revocation of consent, the parent must provide transportation to and from that school. Otherwise the student will be transferred to a school within the student’s attendance area that has an opening at the student’s grade level.

3. If a student was in a federal setting IV program or other program not located in a building with general education services available on-site, the student will be placed in the school nearest their home that has an opening at their general education grade level.

4. The Citywide Discipline Policy will apply to the student as it does to all general education students and the student will not have the procedural protections afforded a student with an IEP.

5. For high school students, from the effective date of the revocation of consent students will be expected to meet all general education graduation requirements, and those requirements cannot be modified through the IEP process. This would include both the graduation credit requirements and the passing of the state graduation tests at the state-set passing levels.

6. Students will no longer receive special education or related services including transition services provided to special education students ages 18-21.

🔒Guidance on  Child Safety Locks and Door-Blocking Devices in Schools

Minneapolis Public Schools is not permitted to use any device that prevents a student from independently opening a door or exiting a room.

The Minnesota State Fire Code requires all occupied interior doors to allow free and unobstructed egress. Door handle covers, add-on latches, and other blocking devices do not meet fire-code requirements and must not be used.

IEP and IFSP teams must address behavior through positive behavior supports and proactive interventions. Their goal is to create conditions where restrictive procedures are unnecessary—not to authorize prohibited practices. Adding a non-compliant device to an IEP does not override state law or district policy and would place the school out of compliance.

Because of this, door-blocking devices must remain removed and cannot be reinstated or written into any IEP.

If there are concerns about elopement or unsafe exiting, please reach out. We can work together on appropriate, compliant alternatives, such as environmental adjustments, supervision plans, non-restrictive door-alert systems, and updates to IEPs/BIPs that support student safety through positive strategies.

🎉New EdPlan Process Tutorials Available!

We’re excited to introduce step-by-step tutorials designed to guide you through commonly used EdPlan processes. These tutorials, created using SupaDemo, were developed with the goal of supporting staff in navigating EdPlan efficiently and confidently.

You can find these resources on the new MPS EdPlan page under the Resources section. They’re easy to follow and perfect for quick reference whenever you need a refresher.

Stay tuned—more tutorials may be added in the future to continue supporting your EdPlan experience!

👉Click here to explore! 

Heads Up: Classroom Inventory Observations✅

We want to learn more about what’s happening in classrooms so we can better support you and your students. To do that, DPFs and Directors will be visiting classrooms throughout the rest of the 2025–2026 school year for what we’re calling Classroom Inventory observations.

Here’s what you need to know:

• These visits are not formal staff performance evaluations and will not be tied to SOEI.

• The goal is to understand common practices and identify gaps so we can improve resources and supports for you and your students.

• Your DPF or Director will reach out sometime this year to schedule a time.

A few of the things we are looking for include: 

• Is curriculum being used? Which ones?

• Are classroom routines and structures taught and in place?

• Are spaces organized to meet student needs?

• What visuals and SEL strategies are being used?

• Are SEAs providing a range of supports?

• Do SEAs follow a schedule and help with data collection?

Why this matters:

By gathering this information, we can see what’s working well and where additional support might be helpful. Our goal is to make sure you have the tools, resources, and strategies you need to help every student succeed.

Thank you for partnering with us as we work to make classrooms even better for students—and to make sure you have what you need to thrive! ♥️

🛡️ MPS Foundations Training: De-escalation & Personal Safety

Special Education Staff — Don’t miss this essential training!

Join us for the Foundations of De-escalation and Personal Safety Training, designed to equip you with vital skills in:

• Crisis response

• Situational awareness

• De-escalation strategies

📅 View the full MPS Foundations Training Schedule for sessions being offered throughout the school year here.

🏠 Opportunity: Homebound Tutor Interest

Minneapolis Public Schools is seeking staff interested in serving as homebound tutors for students who are unable to attend school due to medical or other approved circumstances.

Homebound tutors play an essential role in maintaining student connection and progress during extended absences—helping ensure every learner continues to access their education and receive support aligned with their IEP or academic plan.

If you are interested or would like additional information about becoming a homebound tutor, please contact:
📧 Tracy McCoy – Tracy.McCoy@mpls.k12.mn.us

Honoring Alice Wong: Disability Rights Advocate and Author

Alice Wong, a pioneering disability rights activist and author of Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century, recently passed away, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of advocacy and empowerment. Wong dedicated her life to amplifying the voices of people with disabilities, ensuring their stories were heard and valued in conversations about equity and inclusion.

Through her work as founder of the Disability Visibility Project, Wong created a platform for storytelling that challenged stereotypes and highlighted the diverse experiences within the disability community. Her book, Disability Visibility, became a cornerstone resource for educators, advocates, and allies, offering authentic narratives that foster understanding and empathy.

Wong’s impact extended beyond writing—she was a relentless advocate for accessibility, representation, and policy change. Her efforts inspired countless individuals and organizations to prioritize disability rights as a fundamental part of social justice.

“The future is accessible when we imagine it together.” — Alice Wong

As special education professionals, we honor Alice Wong’s contributions and continue her mission by creating inclusive spaces where every voice matters. Her work reminds us that representation is powerful and that advocacy can transform lives.