Special EducationFamily Engagement Update

HCP

HCPS Special Education Program Improvement Initiative

Family Engagement

March 28, 2019School Board Work Session

Family Engagement

2

Committee & Meetings

22 Members

■ Parents

■ Special Education Advisory

Committee (SEAC)

■ HCPS Staff

7 Meetings

■ 4 face-to-face

■ 1 phone conference

■ 2 co-presenter

Social Media Input and Survey

Three Recommendations Special Education Review

4

● Improve communication and trust with families of students with disabilities

● Support the Special Education Advisory Committee’s (SEAC) role as a voice for parents of students who receive special education services

● Consider enhancing the capacity of the Family and

Educators Resource Center (FERC) and family

advocates by moving toward a peer family

support advisor model

1.Communication and Trust

Work to improve communication and trust with families of students with different abilities

5

School ClimateMatters

6

● Communications Home● IEP Information & Support ● Front Office Training● Front Office Kiosk ● IEP Team Training ● New Student Packets● Inclusive Websites

Family Engagement Information Kit

7

Each School

● Welcome Letter

● Mini Resource Center

● Quick Reference Docs

● Contact/Follow-up Card

● Survey Card

● Comfort Items

● Supplies & Name Cards

8

Collaboration & Training

FCE/Exceptional Education

Collaboration

○ Resources

○ Joint Meetings and Presentations

Training for School Teams

○ Office/Team Members

○ Family Learning Series

○ Parent Conversations

Welcome to HCPS Series

○ Welcome Packets (Gen Ed & Ex Ed)

2.SEAC’s Role

HCPS to continue to support SEAC’s role as a voice for parents of students who receive special education services and work with SEAC through the FERC to enhance it.

9

SEAC’s Goals

● Identify solutions

● Build trusting

relationships

● Promote Positive and

Collaborative work

between Families and

Professionals to benefit

our children.

10

SEAC to Partner with Family & Community Engagement (FCE) and Henrico County Council of PTA (HCCPTA)

11

● Summer SEAC Open House● FCE Back-to-School Kickoff ● FCE Family Institute● Welcome to HCPS Series ● Back-to-School Support● Family Learning Series● Increase Marketing Efforts

● Family IEP Survey

● SEAC will continue to Engage Families at Special

Olympics events

Family and Educator Resource Center

Consider enhancing the capacity of the Family and

Educators Resource Center (FERC) and family

advocates by moving toward a peer family support

advisor model.12

3.

Parent Support Group

13

● Led by Family Institute Members

● Bi-monthly Conversations

“Peer support programs help parents who have children with special

needs find and become reliable allies for each other. They provide parents

with the opportunity to connect with and support each other through

informational and emotional support, and through reciprocity.”

- B. Santelli, A. Turnbull, J. Marquis, and E. Lerner

Special Education Liaisons & SpecialEducation Liaison Coordinator

Support for Families...

Help parents of SWD navigate the IEP process

■ Schedule/Attend meetings to assist parents

■ Provide information to parents prior to IEP meetings

■ Communicate relevant information

■ Provide ongoing training and feedback for liaison staff

■ Coordinate parent information sessions

The Need...

15

Budget Consideration

Special Education Liaisons

Qualifications:

● Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

preferred background in Special

Education, Psychology or Social

Work

Special Education LiaisonCoordinator

Qualifications:

● Master’s Degree or Higher preferred

background in Special Education,

Psychology or Social Work, preferred

former supervisory experience and

prior staff development experience.

Next Steps

16

● Revise SEAC/FCE Documents● Order and Disseminate Parent Flyers● Order Family Engagement Kit Items● Plan for Summer Events and Trainings● Plan Back-to-School Events● Create a 2019-20 Calendar● Update Websites● Order Marketing Materials

“

17