Minnesota Special Education Dispute Resolution Training and Information for Parents - Competitive Grant Opportunity – State Fiscal Year 2027
Minnesota Special Education Dispute Resolution Training and Information for Parents supports parent advocacy groups in informing parents and building skills to resolve special education conflicts.
Funder: Minnesota Department of Education
Due Dates: November 4, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central Time (Applications)
Funding Amounts: Estimated $150,000 for one grant or $75,000 each for two grants; initial two-year period
Summary: Supports Minnesota nonprofit parent advocacy organizations in helping parents understand and use special education dispute resolution processes.
Key Information: Applicants must meet the federal definition of a “parent organization” under 20 U.S.C. section 1471.
Description
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) offers this competitive grant to Minnesota nonprofit special education parent advocacy organizations. The program supports work that increases parents’ knowledge of their rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), particularly those related to special education dispute resolution.
Funded work should improve parents’ awareness of available due process and conflict resolution options and strengthen their communication, collaboration, and self-advocacy skills. The program also seeks to increase cultural diversity in the use of dispute resolution processes through collaboration with culturally diverse community groups. Together, these priorities focus on helping parents understand their options and build practical skills for resolving special education conflicts.
