IDEA Disability Categories in Minnesota
What disability categories qualify for an IEP in Minnesota?
Minnesota recognizes 13 disability categories for special education eligibility, defined in Minnesota Rules Chapter 3525. The categories are: (1) Autism Spectrum Disorders (Minn. R. 3525.1325); (2) Deafblind (Minn. R. 3525.1327); (3) Emotional or Behavioral Disorders — Minnesota's term replacing the federal 'Emotional Disturbance' (Minn. R. 3525.1329); (4) Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Minn. R. 3525.1331); (5) Developmental Cognitive Disability — Minnesota's term replacing the federal 'Intellectual Disability' (Minn. R. 3525.1333); (6) Other Health Disabilities (Minn. R. 3525.1335); (7) Physically Impaired (Minn. R. 3525.1337); (8) Severely Multiply Impaired (Minn. R. 3525.1339); (9) Specific Learning Disability (Minn. R. 3525.1341); (10) Speech or Language Impairments (Minn. R. 3525.1343); (11) Visually Impaired (Minn. R. 3525.1345); (12) Traumatic Brain Injury (Minn. R. 3525.1348); and (13) Developmental Adapted Physical Education (Minn. R. 3525.1352) as an eligibility pathway. Each category has specific entrance and exit criteria. Minnesota also has a team override provision at Minn. R. 3525.1354 allowing the IEP team to override eligibility decisions in limited circumstances. Minnesota's state-specific terminology — EBD and DCD — is important for parents reviewing their child's IEP, as these terms replace the federal 'Emotional Disturbance' and 'Intellectual Disability' designations.
What Minnesota Requires
Minnesota uses 'Emotional or Behavioral Disorders' (EBD) instead of the federal term 'Emotional Disturbance'; EBD requires documentation of behavior patterns across at least three settings for a minimum of six months (Minn. R. 3525.1329).
Minnesota uses 'Developmental Cognitive Disability' (DCD) instead of the federal term 'Intellectual Disability' (Minn. R. 3525.1333).
For Specific Learning Disability, Minnesota permits eligibility through either severe discrepancy (1.75 SD between ability and achievement) or inadequate rate of progress (SRBI model) with a minimum of 12 data points over 7 weeks (Minn. R. 3525.1341, subp. 2).
Children must receive two research-based interventions before an SLD evaluation unless parents request evaluation or urgency is determined by the team (Minn. R. 3525.1341).
The IEP team may override standard eligibility criteria under Minn. R. 3525.1354 in limited circumstances when the team determines it is in the student's best interest.
Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) is a Minnesota-specific eligibility category and related service under Minn. R. 3525.1352.
Key Timelines
EBD eligibility requires documentation of behavior patterns across at least three settings for a minimum of six months, unless caused by a sudden-onset mental health disorder (Minn. R. 3525.1329).
SLD eligibility via the SRBI/RTI pathway requires a minimum of 12 data points collected over at least seven weeks of intervention (Minn. R. 3525.1341, subp. 2(D)).
Reevaluation of eligibility must occur at least every three years (Minn. R. 3525.2710, subp. 2).