UMN Center for Applied Research & Educational Improvement - CAREI

We had a fantastic time at the Minnesota Charter School Leadership Conference! 🏫✨

CAREI’s Sara Kemper and Kim Gulbrandson partnered with Henry Schantzen from Bluffview Montessori School to present key insights from our ongoing Minnesota Department of Education-funded study on charter school board governance.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the sessions and connect with the team!

The International MTSS Association -IMA Global Summit is almost here, and the CAREI team is heading to San Francisco to lead this summer’s most practical, data-informed discussions on MTSS! ✈️ 📊

Whether you are joining in person or streaming virtually with your district team, it’s not too late to get your pass and learn directly from our featured speakers:
🌟 Kim Gibbons, PhD (Director of CAREI) on scaling MTSS frameworks, the science of reading, and proven instructional practices.
🌟 Nicole McKevett, PhD, NCSP (MTSS Support Specialist) on systematic math frameworks and building institutional change that lasts.
🌟 Courtney Wheeler, PhD (Associate Director of MTSS) on data-based decision making to improve equitable student outcomes.

➡️ View the full conference schedule and register today: mtssassociation.org/ima-global-summit

CAREI is excited to be presenting at this year’s Minnesota Charter School Leadership Conference on June 8-10! 🏫 ✨

If you’re attending, we hope you’ll join us for our two sessions as we share insights and practical strategies from our Minnesota Department of Education-funded work on charter school board governance.
➡️ Improving Charter School Board Effectiveness: Insights and Strategies
➡️ Strengthening Charter School Board Governance in MN: Midpoint Insights from a 3-Year Study

We’ll be discussing real-world challenges charter school boards face and sharing actionable tools to help them thrive. We hope to connect with fellow education leaders there!

Don’t miss your chance for 20% off! ⏳ Our exclusive partner code for this year’s International MTSS Association -IMA Global Summit ends this Sunday, May 31.

Join CAREI team members Kim Gibbons, Nicole McKevett, and Courtney Wheeler for research-based sessions on math, literacy, systematic change and more.

🎟️ Use code at checkout: CAREI-IMA-20%
👉 Register now: mtssassociation.org/ima-global-summit

We are thrilled to announce that CAREI is an official Gold Partner for this year’s International MTSS Association (IMA) Global Summit! 🌟

IMA is the leading global organization advancing evidence-based, multi-tiered education frameworks. Join CAREI in San Francisco (July 29–31) as we lead research-backed sessions on math, literacy frameworks, and scaling institutional MTSS. If you want actionable strategies for your district, this is the place to be!

Save 20% on your virtual or in-person registration pass. Use code CAREI-IMA-20% at checkout before it expires on May 31, 2026. ⏰

Register now: mtssassociation.org/ima-global-summit

Let’s talk about the 2026-27 school year: What is the #1 goal you want to achieve for your district?

We enjoyed connecting with so many dedicated educators at the Reading Intervention Vendor Showcase hosted by the Southeast Service Cooperative. 📚 CAREI Literacy Specialist, Holly Pfeiffer, showcased PRESS (Path to Reading Excellence in School Sites) and ways the framework supports system-wide literacy.

Explore PRESS and other CAREI services: carei.umn.edu/literacy-products/press-path-reading-excellence-school-sites

CAREI is heading to the MASE Best Practices Conference! ⭐ Join MTSS Support Specialist Nicole McKevett and Mona Perkins (Rochester Public Schools) on May 14 at 9:45 a.m. for their session, “Creating a Unified System of MTSS-Math.” 🤝

We’ll be discussing how to bridge the gap between general and special education using shared language and leadership practices that align Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.

Learn more about CAREI: carei.umn.edu

MN Administrators for Special Education - MASE

We really enjoyed presenting at the 2026 WCASS Spring Conference in La Crosse, WI! Kathy Ryder, Dan Knewitz, and Chad Schmidt shared strategies on adapting MTSS for unique high school settings alongside Jill Dunn from Rochester Public Schools.

Learn more about CAREI: carei.umn.edu

Are you exploring new ways to support readers and improve system-wide literacy? 📚 Join CAREI on May 12 at the Reading Intervention Vendor Showcase in Rochester, MN hosted by the Southeast Service Cooperative!

We’ll be on-site showcasing PRESS (Path to Reading Excellence in School Sites), our evidence-based K-5 framework for data-driven interventions. Whether you’re a literacy lead or principal, we’d love to show you how PRESS and other CAREI services can help your schools thrive.

Can’t wait until the event? Explore PRESS today: carei.umn.edu/literacy-products/press-path-reading-excellence-school-sites