A few items of important news for Special Education families.
The school district's parent relations director brings her experience as a parent to the table: Deena Zacharin wants parents to understand which schools are targeted for needed improvements so they can be more effective in advocating for change. She spoke to the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education (mandated to have a majority of parents as members) last Thursday at the group's annual potluck. She pointed au the the School Improvement Program requires School Site Council participation. She also distributed handbooks explaining mandated levels of parent participation at elementary and secondary levels. Each council files its rules with the state. A model and an assessment tool is included in the handbook.
It recommends the following web sites:
Governor Davis has signed into law Senator Dede Alpert's (D-San Diego) bill SB 511. This creates funding for up to 33 community-based organizations, -- Family Empowerment Centers for Special Ed families --providing information, training, and peer support. In addition $150,000 has been set aside for a statewide disability organization to contract to help setup a statewide hub to support communication among FECs. $2.4 million will be available in January through the Department of Education. Stay tuned.
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