Minn: St. Paul has seen 17% increase in SPED in 3 yrs; 19% of Minneapolis students have SPED needs

Aug 13, 2025, KSTP, St. Paul, MN: Educators highlight need for special education funding

The needs of special education students are on the rise, according to advocates.

“We are a state that also identifies children from birth. Not all states do that, but we have a child-find from birth through up to age 22, and so it does continue to grow, and the needs of children continue to be significant,” said Erin Toninato, Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE), executive director.

St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) has seen a 17% increase in special needs students over the past three years.

Two hundred and forty of the SPPS special education students attend Focus Beyond Transition Services.

“We at this site serve students that are 18 up until their 22nd birthday, who all have special education needs, and have continual needs in the areas of independent living, post-secondary, which is basically what do you need to do to be an adult, and then employment,” said Micaela Smith, principal at Focus Beyond.

In the 2024-2025 school year, 6,316 students were special needs. That number made up 19% of students enrolled in the district.

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) released the following data for special education in the 2024-2025 school year:

National: 14.8%

Minnesota: 16.18%

MPS: 18.6%

“In order to serve students, we have to develop the Individual Education Plan, the IEP, and that’s with families. And so through that process and developing the program, once the child qualifies. You do make sure that each area of disability or suspected disability is addressed, and that everything that the child needs is built into their school day,” Toninato said.

However, she’s concerned about the future funding to support special education students.

In July, the Supreme Court ruled to allow the White House to continue efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

“Well, most certainly at risk is funding. You know, so that students with disabilities can continue to receive the service that they’re receiving, and we’re advocating hard to keep all of that funding in place. Most certainly, we are advocating for IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to remain in the Department of Ed. It is an education program. It is an education law. And so moving that into any other organization really doesn’t make sense,” Toninato said. . . .

“If we move to just a single stream of funding out of IDEA, that is not funded at a full level either. It’s only funded at about a 10% level. And what was promised in the law was a 40% level. And so that funding source, as inflation has increased, has continued to go down, and we most certainly can’t meet the needs of a whole child on just that single funding source,” Toninato said.

She said special education is already underfunded, so MASE is fighting to keep the money available in place. . . .