Each child in Minnesota is entitled to a free and appropriate public education.  Schools in Minnesota also have a legal obligation to appropriately identify children and youth with disabilities.

Schools are also required to offer a cultural liaison to families as needed.  If requested, a cultural liaison can be included in meetings that may involve discussions regarding pre-referrals for specialized services such as special education.  A cultural liaison may also be included in meetings for those students already receiving specialized services.

A cultural liaison is defined as a person who is of the same racial, cultural, socioeconomic, or linguistic background as the pupil who:

• Provides information to the Individual Education Plan (IEP) team about the pupil’s race, cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic background
  
• Assists the IEP team in understanding how racial, cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic factors impact educational progress
  
• Facilitates the pupil’s parent’s understanding and involvement in the special education process.
  

If a person who is of the same racial, cultural, socioeconomic, or linguistic background as the pupil is not available, then a person who has the knowledge of the pupil’s racial, cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic background may act as a cultural liaison (Minnesota Statute 3525.0200).