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Partnerships for Student Success in Special Education

A model for Schools and Groups forming or wanting to sustain their efforts around  partnerships in Special Education.

PURPOSE OF P4SS in Special Education:

Partnerships for Student Success in Special Education (P4SSinSE) groups promote family, school, and community partnerships by providing opportunities for members to build working relationships with each other and a develop a common vision based on shared interests. By working together, Partnership groups allow families and schools see the positive impact of parent involvement in special education.

The P4SSinSE framework models a professional approach, where each member recognizes their roles and responsibilities to each other and to the group. Through the P4SS approach, parents have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, enabling them to better support other parents and their school district.

The strategies and tools offered in the P4SS in Se Guide are key components for the success of the special education community relationships and ultimately the success of children in special education.
P4SS in SE groups promote family, school, and community partnerships by providing opportunities for members to build working relationships with each other and a develop a common vision based on shared interests. By working together, partnership groups allow families and schools see the positive impact of parent involvement in special education.

The P4SSinSE framework models a professional approach, where each member recognizes their roles and responsibilities to each other and to the group. Through the P4SS in SE approach, parents have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, enabling them to better support other parents and your school district.

Embracing the P4SS in SE principals, and using the strategies and tools provided in the guide will improve collaboration between school personnel and parents of children with disabilities. Partnership group work informs school personnel and parents working toward common goals will promote the success of all children in your district.

What are the guiding principals of P4SS in SE Groups?

1. Family, school, and community partnerships are key to student success
2. Parent involvement in special education is also vital to student success
3. Partners need opportunities and skills to build working relationships
4. A common vision is based on shared interests
5. Parents need the opportunity to develop leadership skills to allow them to better support their school district

Here are some FAQ's about NH Connections Regional Support Network Meetings.....

What districts are now benefiting from the work of NH Connections regional support network (RSN)?

SAU 29, SAU 38, SAU 60, SAU 47 

Who attends RSN meetings?
Administrators, Educators, Parents, Community members and students are all very welcome.

What do RSN meetings accomplish?
Shared ideas, resources, and work toward common goals.
 

This is what we achieved in May...

• Updates:

P4E Conference Carmel Sperry-Special Education Coordinator, and Linda Sutton -Principal for Monadnock Regional School attended the conference and Carmel reported out to the group. Anna (MDS) asked if there was a way to know who from the Monadnock region attended. Liz (NHC) will see if data is available.

• Actions:

Review work toward goals: Carmel advised that Judith Richards who runs the Life Skills program at the middle school is piloting a project Kids- engaging the family in self-discovery. Anna reminded the group of the futures planning document that area agencies staff use, and the process including EVERYONE who is involved in the child/ student. Carmel ‘s discussions with other MRMS staff yielded concerns of the Student on being ready, parental concerns in sharing IEP status but that she is working on more Student Lead IEP meetings. Currently at MRMS over 50% of student with IEP ‘s attend part of IEP meetings. The group thought this was very good way to developed students’ as self advocacy skills.

• Next steps:

Liz shared that she was keen to report on the work of the RSN Members, and share the templates the group had help develop. Anna will send out revised documents . The groups reviewed the action grid, and confirmed that they would receive feedback from both schools/ districts staff at the next meeting on June 8th 2010.

This is what was achieved in April...

• News: Parent Involvement Survey reminder to complete and return by 4/24/2010.

In the districts represented at these meetings, the SAU administration staff take on the responsibility for mailing out surveys. Cathy Reeves who is Director of Special Education for SAU 29 placed a piece in local newspaper promotes participation in the 2009/2010 Parent Involvement Survey. Monadnock regional middle school: busy time of year with transition meetings. SAU 60 NHC parent leadership training: two-day revised to evening workshops in response to parents needs.

Participants who represent Fall Mountain school district and Monadnock regional middle school continued work to move forward with their action grid....including the following-: 
1. Agency Checklist template: reviewed by all. to be revised as suggested. Both FM and MRMS will then share with their staff, and report back at next meeting
2. Discuss ‘futures planning’: MRMS: discussed with high school counterpart piloting in August (using MAPS in collaboration with Monadnock Center for Successful Transitions(MCST). Shared MDS’s futures planning components: Timeline/ Who’s involved?:Likes/Interests MRMS may focus on a target groups – middle school, out of district placement, in order to trial/pilot process. FM- will discuss the receptiveness to futures planning activities with their Special Education taskforce and report back at next meeting.
3. Children’s service coordinators instructed to seek permission that allows MDS to be invited to school meetings.  Next meeting is on Tuesday May 11th.

This is what we achieved in March...

SAU represented : 29, 38,47 and 60.

Introductions/updates:

• Update on enquires into the 2008-2009 Parent Involvement Survey results for SAU 29- provided by Cathy Reeves Director of Special Education for SAU 29 Keene. The group had some questions about the data, a message had been sent back to Director of Special Education, who welcomed support from NH Connections and follow-up was needed.

• SAU 60  Their 3rd parent forum  was being held on March 23rd.

• Monadnock Regional Middle school:  PI was not happening (no PTA, or parent groups) at regional school, and many educators felt discouraged by the perceived parent value of education. – the group suggested some transitions groups could bring parents in as 7&8 grade only ( revolving door) Anna lake suggested that parent that had helped their child transfer to next grade would be able to advise other whos were planning to help their children make a successful transitions to middle school.

• Jaffrey~Ringe found that their “Coffee&Chat” events boosted volunteer numbers.

• Facilitator offered that busy parents need more that one reason to come to a school event, and that organizer can use classic parent involvement events – like holiday parties, school concerts “to be their store front” to engaging parents in their child’s learning. Research suggests that students make the most gain when parent involvement program are directly linked to learning₁

• SAU 60 shared use of social networking sites like facebook to promote school parent involvement events being successful in here district.

Action planning: defining, and individual responsibilities
See attached action grid
The group wanted to investigate the opportunity that informal meeting with student (where appropriate, parent, family members to carry futures planning ₂ activities and tools that support the transfer/ transition process and improve schools opportunity to support the whole child.
At the next meeting, we can review the work completed and agree upon next steps.

Email announcement: March 25th 2010
The forum held in October on parent involvement in special education helped us share great information. The need for better communication was a common thread in discussions between parents, educators, and community services providers. Time constraints were also seen as a considerable barrier to gaining higher levels of parent involvement. Everyone agreed that increasing parent involvement improved outcomes for all students.

In addition, the group agreed the need to understand and support the whole child.

What does that look like? How do educators and families work together to ensure they understand and support the whole child?

The NH Connections Monadanock Regional Support Network (RSN) members are working on this question.

Our next meeting is on April 13th 5:30 pm at Monadnock Developmental Services We welcome you to join us in our work to improve outcomes for children who are part of the Special Education System.
Please contact Liz Macdonald – NH Connections Central Southwest Regional Facilitator


References:
1: http://www.sedl.org/connections/resources/evidence.pdf
2: http://www.perkins.org/resources/scout/transition/person-centered-planning.html - this links to pacer, and a great booklet on futures planning – It’s never too early. It’s never too late
 

This is what we achieved in February...

Introductions: Representatives SAU 38, and MDS agency staff shared news. The agenda was revised, and action planning had to be postponed until next time due to low turn-out.
MDS getting parents involved: Region 5 supports the IOD NH leadership program, and hopes to connect with NH leader Alumnus in the Monadnock region to inspire them to serve in partnership teams, advisories, and councils to create, broaden, and sustain resources in this region, and help build on their leadership experiences.
NH Family Voices would like to hear from YOU. To better serve Families, they are examining the way that families connect with one another, and invite people to come to MDS on March 23rd to share experiences, and meet other families in the area. Please email sallyaweiss@hotmail.com to confirm attendance or email/call Anna Lake at anna@mds-nh.org or 352-1304 x267 ( Flier attached)
Fall Mountain (SAU 60) is hosting the NH Connections Parent Leadership in Special Education training in April. If you are a Parent of Educator in SAU 60, please contact the Parent Information Center 603 224 7005 for more information, and to apply. The Parent Leadership in Special Education in one part of the T/A that is available to assist schools in the parent involvement in special education work.
At the next meeting, March 9th members will

• Develop Action Grid- following our work on goals last time (see attached goal sheet)
• Clarify Roles and Responsibilities
• Be provided with Parent Involvement Tool Kit from NH Connections

Please RSVP to liz emacdonald@picnh.org to help us plan for materials and refreshments. Thanks!
 

This is what we achieved in January...

Fall Mountain High School is hosting a series of parent orientated
Workshops on topics that arose from a Forum: They include Transition Readiness (Elementary to Middle school), and More Than Stress Management presented by Jeanine Fitzgerald. They have 2 more events planned this year. Bravo Fall Mountain!

Monadnock Regional Middle School is holding 6-8th grade parent advisory

meetings, reporting that turnout could be better possibly reflecting the geographical
challenges of a regional school. “Middle school is where transition readiness
is needed”. They held an open house for students graduating to middle
school and their families. This event was successful. The group agreed that
transitions to middle school could be very challenging for all students, not
just those who have disabilities.

Hinsdale also held a 5th-6th grade open house this year that was well attended. They see the Focus Monitoring process as an opportunity to look more at parent involvement and its impact on closing the achievement gap. 

The group asked questions about Monadnock Developmental Services opportunities and referral procedures. Information was provided and it was agreed that anyone could make a referral with the parents consent. Once a referral was made, MDS staff follow-up with the families.

Discussions and handouts: Reviewed the State-wide and districts' results of the Parent Involvement Survey. Some members knew their results, some will find out (see “homework” below).

What is a good result?Members talked about surveys in general and what can we expect from a survey that is specific which targets parent reporting school-facilitated parent involvement in education of children with disabilities.

Choosing our goals: Transitions was a hot topic. The group wanted to inform parents that transition readiness was important. The student involved and student lead IEP meetings are among the best practices to enable students to become better self-advocates. Parents of newly eligible children needed support to be ready for school. The group shared resources on transition -: SSECT  Supporting Successful Early Childhood Transitions, who monitor federal requirements to have a written agreement between early supports and services and preschool, and MCST Monadnock Center for Successful Transitions who also operate in a Community of Practice on Sharedwork.org.

Action planning using Joyce Epstein’s Six types of involvement model from Partnership Team.

Confirmed meeting schedule for 2010: 2nd Tuesday each month: Feb 9th, Mar 9th,
April 13th, May 11th, and June 8th.

Homework: Parent Involvement Survey results:
Find out your district data - Did your schools do better, less than or greater than the State average for overall response rate? What could you do to improve 2010 results? Report out at next meeting on Feb 9th.

What can my school district do to improve overall results?

1. Check with your families - Do you have their correct mailing address?  Do you have the data from last year for return mail? If you check this data, then you will know what number to improve.

2.  Talk with your families about the survey and how everyone including the Department of Education values parent involvement in special education.

3.   Remind the parents that the survey is about parent involvement, not satisfaction or student performance, but how better involvement leads to student success.

4. Show families the example documents (pdf files available to download from this web page ) or visit http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/index.htm  and search for “Parent Involvement Survey”. Contact DoE, or call Liz 866 3111 with any questions.

5 . Plan to send reminders out to parents. The 2009/2010 Parent Involvement Survey will arrive and be distributed in March 2010.  Use newsletters, emails,  phone calls, and feature the Survey on the district website.

This is what we achieved in December...

NHC Central Southwest Regional Network Meeting Monadnock Region
Meeting Notes: December 15, 2009 at 6 pm at MDS

NHC handouts: Please visit the links embedded in the text to help our work together.
Door raffle = Beyond the Bake Sale accompanied by book reviews courtesy of Amazon.com

Parent Involvement Forum (summary attached in accompanying email). Those present shared resonating responses; “great mix of parent and educators- different perspectives”; “liked the questions, and the mixing up of groups”( world café process)” Them& Us- identified as an barriers, during the forum, participants with differing roles shared many of the same issues, and concerns” “academic achievement rises when schools engage parents directly in their childrens’s education “ ref: A new Wave of Evidence- Mapp, Henderson, et al
Table of content review: Indicator 8 A measure of the work that schools are doing toward increasing parent involvement are presented in the parent involvement survey After looking at the goals of all the indicators in the state performance plan, the group agreed that improvements in indicator 8 will foster improvements of many, if not all of the other indicators!
Homework assignment: to review the Sate-wide results of the Parent Involvement Survey.

Group discussion on the changes in education Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), the districts, and schools in need of improvement( DINI/SINI), Response to Intervention (RTI), Differentiated Instruction (DI), and the challenges faced by budgetary changes, lack of training for parents to develop the self advocacy skills of their children and stigma associated with disabilities.
Action planning using Joyce Epstein’s Six types of involvement model from Partnership Team
The group expect attendance to improve and are leaning toward address issues around the parent involvement survey to guide their action.

Meeting schedule –Next Meeting Jan 12th 5:30 -7:30 PM at MDS – bring someone from your school district, with you.
Diane was the winner of the raffle. She hoped to be able to give her response/review of the book during next month’s meeting:-)

How can my school district benefit from RSN work?

By reading and sharing this message, and following the links you can find out....

• how the Parent Involvement Survey is valued in Special Education,

• how to build on your Parent Involvement initiatives,

• by sharing this information with others you help your district improve outcomes for children with disabilities.

•  and you can join us next time

How much fun are RSN meetings?

Meetings are designed to be welcoming, with lot of opportunity to share in an informal setting. There is a light supper and a door raffle. 

The facilitator believes that humor adds to the well-being of members, as research supports that laughter is conducive to a healthy life:-)

Thanks to all for working on Parent Involvement.