Comments from the 2010-2011 Forum on Family/School Partnerships in Special Education held in Merrimack



"Parents and staff need time to relax, have a bite to eat, and chat before the forum to get to know one another better.

~  special education director


 

Can we have an event like this at our school? 

~ parent at the forum

Certainly, a school can have technical assistance on family/ school partnerships in a format that fits your needs.




"We really are more alike than different"
~spoken from a special education administrator about parents and school staff.




"It will be great to see what topics for future events will be generated from this forum."

~ parent at the forum


 
 
I noticed the Director of Special Education giving a hug to a parent.  I chatted with the parent at the event, and she said "I really feel relaxed and am getting to know her beyond our IEP meeting relationship, and I like it"
~ at an NH Connection workshop

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Please contact Joe at jhatch@picnh.org  or call
(603) 848-4251

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011-2012 school year kickoff Forum on Family-School
Partnerships in Special Education


This years forum for parents, educators, school personnel, and community members will be held in Manchester and will provide an opportunity to participate in small group discussions about family-school partnerships in special education in a relaxed setting. This will be the kick-off event followed by three round-table discussions during the school year for the region to continue the conversation on family-school partnerships in special education.


Time and date: 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, October 13th

Location: McDonough Elementary School, 150 Lowell Street, Manchester NH 03104 map

There will be food, refreshments and resources available.



April 19, 2011 Discussion on Communication results
 
 May 10, 2011 Discussion on Training 


May 24, 2011 Discussion on Resources 

Parents, Educators, and Community members, have had conversations and given recommendations for building positive partnerships between family and schools in special education. 


 

 

 

Results of the December 8, 2010 Forum on Family/School
Partnerships in Special Education.
    

Discussions took place, in a World cafe style forum, among Educators, Parents, and Community Members that was thoughtful and useful to identify topics
of what is working, and of what topics that could need new strategies.  The discussions were around three guided questions which were:
 
  1. What things are happening in your schools-school districts to involve families?
  2. What areas or topics about expanding family-school partnerships do you think your schools and families need help with?
  3. What do families and schools need to do to expand family-school partnerships?

Next steps - NH Connections wants collaborate with you to hold events on the three topics that participants prioritized:
 
  • Communication that is multi modal, two way, and meaningful
  • Resources that are accessible, relevant, and family friendly
  • Training to promote understanding and better outcomes

Do you have ideas on these topics that could help other schools, school districts and families?, or do you have a need for new strategies on these topics?

NH Connections wants to invite you to share and learn strategies from school districts on the topics of communication, resources, and training.  Would your school district want to host a small event on any of the three topical events?  As a result of this regional forum, individual school and school district technical assistance is underway and can be scheduled in your school district as well.  NH Connections is committed to assisting schools and school districts to enhance family school partnerships in special education.

Please contact Joe Hatch and we can plan to share what is working on these three important topics.
 
The South Central forum Brief results can be downloaded.

For further questions please contact Joe Hatch the NH Connections South Central Facilitator
at jhatch@picnh.org or call (603) 848-4251