Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For starters, we’ve been serving students who are Blind, Visually Impaired and DeafBlind for more than 150 years! We are a statewide public school with a residential option that accepts students with varying degrees of vision loss from all regions of the state. Our students have direct access to a challenging and rewarding education, provided in an environment with accessible educational materials. Our teachers are professionally trained and licensed in Blind Visually Impaired (BVI) education.    

We provide a comprehensive whole-child development model in which our students have full access to a wide array of activities and experiences that allow them to develop critical thinking skills, language/communication abilities, coping/problem solving skills, and cultural awareness and competence.   We aim for functional equivalence, providing our students with full accessibility beyond the minimal accessibility expectations as outlined in our nation’s laws. 

There is NO cost to families of students who attend MSAB! Tuition and other instructional services, meals, and residential services are covered by the Minnesota legislature. Transportation and any specialized special education services (such as an one-on-one paraprofessional aide) are covered by the student’s home school district. There are minimal fees for activities, sports and field trips. Parents may also choose to set up a student account for their child for personal shopping or expenses.

We offer a residential option for our students who may live far away or have a need to stay in our dormitories. Some of our students stay on campus, while the rest are day students. The dorms are closed on weekends as well as during holiday and school breaks. Dorm students usually go home on Fridays after school and return on Sunday evenings. 

The student’s home school district provides transportation to and from school. This service is identified and documented in students’ Individual Education Programs. Parents may choose to transport their children as well.

We have a transition program, called Academy Plus (also known as the A+ Program), that helps students aged 18-22 with academics, career readiness, independent living skills, and community resources. This includes supporting college/career readiness, job searching skills, living independently, and developing a sense of belonging so students can become self-sustaining adults and participating members of their community.

You can find a list of staff in our staff directory. Here’s our staff directory

We will work with your family and your child's home school district.  Give us a call at 507-384-6649 or contact Anne Grace Donatucci at annegrace.donatucci@msa.state.mn.us, and we’ll go through the enrollment process together.

Absolutely! Give us a call at 507-384-6649 or contact Anne Grace Donatucci at annegrace.donatucci@msa.state.mn.us, to set up a time and date. MSAB administrators will give you a personal tour of our campus and classrooms, with one-on-one time afterwards to answer any questions you may have.

We are dedicated to meeting the needs of all of our students so they can prepare for life after school. For example, we have a Living Skills program for our students with developmental  challenges and/or other learning needs. In this program, we have a low staff to student ratio in order to focus on each student's unique needs. Clear visuals, highly structured environments, and other supports are used to ensure student success.

Each student at MSAB has an Individual Education Program in which we provide accommodations, individualized support/services, and other programming to help students achieve their goals.  We also have a full array of related services that are available to our students (as defined in their IEPs), including Speech/Language services, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Orientation & Mobility, DeafBlind Interveners, and more.

It depends.  We are able to accept students from other states which requires an agreement with your child’s local school district and a tuition fee will be charged.   Your child’s local school district would also be responsible for transportation and any additional costs related to specialized special education services (such as an one-on-one paraprofessional aide)  Give us a call at 507-384-6649 or email Anne Grace Donatucci at annegrace.donatucci@msa.state.mn.us for more information.

MSAB offers an Extended School Year (ESY) program for students who have ESY services/goals included in their IEPs. This two-week program consists of classroom instruction, fun activities, and other enrichment opportunities for students.

Our students earn regular diplomas, same as any other student in the state of Minnesota. If students do not meet requirements prior to aging out of our programs, they will receive a certificate of completion upon their departure from our school.

Our dorm students benefit from a wide range of activities, which include recreational and educational programs, social events, volunteer opportunities, work and independent living experiences, and more!

Yes, we charge small participation fees for different activities (such as after school programming, sports, competitions, and dorm activities).

Students are encouraged to incorporate personal effects into the decor of their dormitory rooms, so it feels like a “home away from home.” For more information on what students can have in their rooms, contact the Student Life director.

We have a health clinic on campus staffed by licensed nurses, and they are trained in dispensing medication as ordered by your child’s doctors. They are also available on-call during nights and weekends.  Our staff are also trained in CPR and First Aid to respond to immediate needs.  If your child becomes ill while at school, they can visit the health clinic and the nurse will contact you to inform you on your child’s health needs. 

Campus tours by appointment for the general community are welcome! Please keep in mind that educational time is important to us and our students. To avoid classroom disruption for our students, we are limiting in-classroom visits and observations to special and education-related requests only. Please click on “Contact Us” on the top right of this page and fill out the webform. We’ll let you know if your request is approved. 

Yes, you can, pending space availability. For inquiries, please contact the Superintendent’s office at 507-400-6088 or email Kim Barron at kim.barron@msa.state.mn.us. 

Thank you for your interest! Please refer to MSA Policy #450 for details regarding expectations and guidelines for volunteers. Then click on "Contact Us" at the top right of this page, or call 507-384-6700 or email John Davis at john.davis@msa.state.mn.us.

We are always looking for great people to work with the MSAB family! Click here to see what's currently available: Employment Opportunities 

We thank you for your generosity! Contact us at 507-400-6101 or email Lance Hall at lance.hall@msa.state.mn.us, or click on “Contact Us” on the top right of this page, and we’d be happy to discuss this further with you.