10 Proven ideas for educators to improve parental involvement in special education.

1. Presented by Kari Lewinsohn
April 9, 2010
MCEC conference

2. Goals
This course provides 10 strategies for administrators
and teachers to keep all family members involved and
participating in the special education process from
referral to graduation. All strategies have been piloted
with success and most are based upon specific
research strategies.

3. Strategy #1
Create a mission statement for
involving families.

4. Developing a mission
Ask…
‘’What do the
families need?”
What are the
strengths of our
families?
Purpose…
By assessing the
strengths and
needs, school
leaders can then
tailor programs and
opportunities that
all families can
access.

5. Strategy #2
Evaluation Report Participation

6. Opportunities
What parent can bring
Medical records
Early childhood background of child
Parent’s view of strengths and educational needs

7. Sample form
•Send the form with
the meeting notice.
•Encourage parents
to actively share
from their reports
throughout the
evaluation report
meeting.

8. Strategy #3
Welcome Packets

9. Welcome Packets
Plan
Provided to newly qualified
families.
Share and discuss with family
Contents
Procedural safeguards
List of community and state
resources, contact numbers
Fact sheet about disability
Special education guidebook

10. Downloads
Fact Sheets
http://www.nichcy.org/Dis
abilities/specific/Pages/de
fault.aspx
Special Education Guidebook
http://www.pluk.org/Pubs/
MT_SPED_Handbook_2005
.pdf
www.pluk.org

11. Strategy #4
IEP Participation

12. IEP participation
IEP Participation by the family is a key component of
the IDEA.
Parents bring a home perspective to the meeting that
should be encouraged.

13. IEP Form for
parents
Parents are asked to
Share student
strengths
Express concerns
But often aren’t
prepared

14. Strategy #5
Transitions

15. Transitions
According to [34 CFR 300.43 (a)] [20 U.S.C. 1401(34)]
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
schools are to focus on improving a child’s
academic and functional achievement by taking
into account the child’s individual needs in order
to facilitate successful movement from school to
post secondary activities (IDEA, 2007, p. 1).

16. Transitions
Transitions are
Designed to promote a
meaningful adult life
and career .
Focused on what the
child will need at the
next level to be
successful in the LRE.
Steps
Part C to B
Preschool to Kindergarten
Elementary to Middle School
Middle School to High
School
High School to Graduation

17. Enlist parent and student input
Questionnaire
With invitation for transition
meeting send home
fact sheet about the
upcoming transition stage
Student and parent input
interview
Resources
http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu
/Transition/
Rural Institute with the
University of Montana
Transition project.

18. Early Childhood Transitions
Part C to B
Collaborate with birth to 3
agencies: CDC and/or Early
Head Start.
Parenting strategies key
component
http://www.earlyliteracylearn
ing.org/pgparents.php
Preschool to Kindergarten
Write IEP to build skills
needed for inclusion in
Kindergarten classroom
(when possible)
Provide literacy and math
strategies to parents
Transition with Kindergarten
teacher.

19. School transitions
K-8
Provide information
concerning the next school
stage.
Meet with staff from both
schools.
Discuss programming needs
and make a plan for the
upcoming school year.
Form
Simple questionnaire one for
parents and one for child:
What’s working
What are your hopes and
dreams
What hasn’t worked
Programming needs
Concerns

20. High School
Transitions & Graduation
Transition planning in high
school needs to include
looking at post secondary life.
Critical to have student
involved in these discussions!
Resources
Parent/ student
questionnaire
Transition planning
workbook
Vocational Rehab

21. Strategy #6
Newsletters

22. Newsletters
Send out every two months.
•Parenting tips
•Math/ Reading
•Social Emotional
•Events
•Resources
Click for sample

23. Strategy #7
Website

24. Website
Libby’s site
http://www.libby.k12.mt.us/node/334
What to include to start with:
Contact information
Program offerings
Resources
Forms

25. Strategy #8
Parent Advocacy Groups

26. Parent Advocacy Groups
Four major steps
1.
2.
3.
4.
Establish regular meeting times
Invite supportive parents first
Establish goals for group
Branch out to include other parents.
PIRC
http://www.montanapirc.org/

27. Parent advocacy groups
Cautions
Don’t start out to big.
Provide child care and
snacks
Don’t meet to often
Give parents opportunities
to visit without school staff.

28. Strategy #9
Parent Training Opportunities

29. Parent Training
Set up
Survey parents for topics
Examine case load for trends
Provide for a variety of times
Invite parents to attend staff
trainings that are relevant.
Childcare is a bonus
Support for transportation
Ideas
Transition workshops
Parenting
Love and Logic
Disability specific

30. Strategy #10
Curriculum and Program review committees

31. Curriculum and Program
Review Committee
Periodically analyze
current educational
trends.
Create a committee of
individuals with
expertise in the special
education areas to
review.
Establish a mission
statement
Survey staff and families
School staff review all
relevant data
Create document
Open for community
feedback
Finalize draft
Present to board
Make recommended
changes

32. Libby’s draft mission statement:
Libby Public Schools will prepare all students
with the necessary life skills to be
contributing members of the community
through self-advocacy and seeking out
meaningful opportunities.

33. FLIGHT
•Functional Academics
•Leisure skills
•Independence
•Good communication
•Home and Community
•Transitions to adulthood
No one
soars to
high who
soars with
his own
wings.

34. Kari’s website ☺
www.educationhorsesense.net

35. Thanks for
coming!