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Special education in Minnesota

What Minnesota calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Minnesota

Special education is called
Special Education
The IEP meeting
IEP team meeting
Eligibility team
Evaluation team
Evaluation timeline
30 school days. 30 school days from consent to evaluation and eligibility (Minn. R. 3525.2550)
IEP timeline
IEP within 30 calendar days of eligibility
Transition planning starts
Grade 9 or age equivalent (being checked)
Rights transfer to the student at
18
Developmental delay category
3 to 6 (child count)
Dyslexia law
yes: Minn. Stat. 120B.12 subd. 2a: K-2 screening for characteristics of dyslexia (READ Act)
State categories
Developmental cognitive disability (DCD); emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD); physically impaired; other health disabilities

Find your district and schools

567 districts and charter districts. 317 special education schools and 306 public charter schools.

Get your Hall PassSchools in MinnesotaServices for children in Minnesota (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office
Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)
Mediation
State complaint
Due process

Free help for families

Parent centers

Disability rights agency

Advocacy groups in Minnesota

Paying for it

Medicaid for children
Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid)
CHIP
Medical Assistance (CHIP is part of MA); MinnesotaCare
Apply
Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income
yes: MA-TEFRA
Schools bill Medicaid for health services
yes
Autism insurance law
yes. large employer plans; under 18
Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities
general-limited: K-12 Education Credit (refundable, income-limited, excludes tuition); K-12 education deduction

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Minnesota scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

C+

Rank 16 of 51

State of Support

A

Rank 2 of 51

Combined

B+

Rank 1 of 51

PillarGrade
Following the lawB
Learning togetherD+
ResultsB+
School fundingC
Family protectionsC
Options and transitionD+

IDEA determination 2026: Needs Assistance (1 year). How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.