Advisory GroupsLearning Support : Minnesota Department of Education

Advisory Groups

Advisory Groups

Advisory groups have been established by federal and/or state mandates to provide input and recommendations to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on a variety of special education initiatives. MDE offers access to membership information, minutes and meeting agendas for the State Special Education Advisory Panel, the Minnesota Interagency Coordinating Council and the State Interagency Committee.

Membership in the groups is a cross section of Minnesotans involved in Special Education: parents/advocates, special education professionals, higher education professionals, administrators, MDE staff and legislators.

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Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP)


SEAP provides advice on the education of children and youth with disabilities. The purpose of the council is to provide broad base input into Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) staff regarding policies and issues related to children and youth with disabilities from birth through age 21.

Specialist Contact: Mary McDevitt Kraljic, 651-582-8589, E-mail: Mary McDevitt Kraljic


Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) Meeting Dates 08/07 PDF Version 102Kb (12/19/07)
     Meeting dates and locations.
Special Education Advisory Panel PDF Version 87Kb (10/9/07) Native Version 47Kb (10/9/07)
     Laws and Guidelines.
Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) Manual PDF Version 1Mb (7/20/05)
     Developed to assist local SEAPs in their work. This manual offers background on Minnesota legislation, creating local SEAPs, tips for working with partners, worksheets to assist in designing and planning and samples of materials that are helpful.
Special Education Advisory Panel Vacancy PDF Version 248Kb (1/18/08) Native Version 759Kb (1/18/08)
     Special Education Advisory Panel Application and announcement for 2008-2009.
Special Education Advisory Panel Vision, Duties and Purpose PDF Version 10Kb (9/19/06)
     Revised for 2006/2007.
State Special Education Advisory Council Annual Report PDF Version 519Kb (7/24/08)
     A summary of the Panel for June 2007 through May 2008.
State Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) PDF Version 265Kb (12/18/07)
     Membership list and contact information.

Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC)


The membership of the ICC is appointed by the Governor.  Required by federal statute and regulations, MS 125A.28 outlines its membership which includes parents, state and local interagency public and private providers, representatives from the legislature and higher education and duties.  These duties include recommending policies to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated multi-disciplinary interagency system of all state and local early intervention services for children with disabilities under age five and their families. The policies must address how to incorporate each agency's services into a unified state and local system of multi-disciplinary assessment practices, individual intervention plans, comprehensive systems to find children in need of services, methods to improve public awareness and assistance in determining the role of interagency early intervention committees (IEICs).

Contact:  Karen Carlson, Director, 651-582-8397  


ICC Membership List PDF Version 27Kb (7/27/05)
     This list includes contacts on the State Early Intervention Team
Letter from ICC Chairperson PDF Version 20Kb (7/27/05)
     Dawn Bly

State Interagency Committee (SIC)


The State Interagency Committee (SIC) is appointed by the state to lead the Minnesota System of Interagency Coordination (MnSIC) initiative, as mandated by the Interagency Services for Children with Disabilities Act (Minnesota Statute 125A.023 and Minnesota Statute 125A.027) outlines the specific responsibilities of the IEIC Governing Boards as related to 125A.023. Representatives on SIC oversee and make key decisions about the development and implementation of the MnSIC for children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 and their families.

MDE Contact: Robyn Widley, 651-582-1143, Email: Robyn Widley


Minnesota State Interagency Committee Membership List (MnSIC) PDF Version 87Kb (8/14/07) Native Version 117Kb (8/14/07)
     Contact information.
State Interagency Committee Agreement PDF Version 84Kb (7/28/05)
     July 2000: Addresses purpose, terms and state agency involvement.