Family Engagement

#PAFamilyEngagement

Families and schools working together, because our students are worth it

Family engagement promotes equitable partnerships among schools, families, and communities to actively advance student achievement through shared commitment, decision making and responsibility.

**ATTENTION EDUCATORS! A recent change has been made to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE’s) policy regarding a student’s age of eligibility under federal IDEA. The new policy allows a student to be enrolled in school until their 22^nd birthday. This may also affect young adults who exited school during the 2022-23 school term.

To learn more, see the IDEA-B Frequently Asked Questions and included Resources

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image of Transition Tuesdays-Engaging Families in Transition Planning. Click on image to get more info

Videos
Resources
Consultants

Videos

Collaborating with Families: Effective Family Engagement | PaTTANpod [S1E9] 00:17:39 minutes

What Administrators Need to Know about Family Engagement - Part 1 02:00:17 minutes

What Administrators Need to Know About Family Engagement - Part 2 01:43:51 minutes

View All Related Videos

Resources

Engaging Families in the IEP Process: A Guide for Schools

This document explores how schools can reframe the IEP process and take active steps to include families as educational partners. When families are not just involved, but actively engaged, students achieve better grades, higher test scores, and increased graduation rates.

A family-friendly explanation of each section of the IEP is included, as well as considerations and conversation starters for use at the IEP team meeting.

Enhancing School Engagement and Attendance for Students With Disabilities This resource provides information for educators, families, caregivers, and other stakeholders about removing barriers interfering with attendance, as well as strategies to improve school engagement and attendance for students with disabilities.

Families to the MAX Tip Sheet: Access to the General Education Curriculum Regardless of a child’s placement, having access to the general education curriculum is a requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This publication presents ways to provide access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities.

Also available in Spanish.

Families to the MAX Tip Sheet: Access to the General Education Curriculum (Spanish) Regardless of a child’s placement, having access to the general education curriculum is a requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This publication presents ways to provide access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities. Spanish version.

Also available in English.

Families to the MAX Tip Sheet: Presuming Competence This tip sheet lists ways to reflect "presuming competence" in the Individualized Education Program.

Also available in Spanish.

Families to the MAX Tip Sheet: Presuming Competence (Spanish) This tip sheet lists ways to reflect "presuming competence" in the Individualized Education Program. Spanish version.

Also available in English.

Family’s Quick Start Guide to Special Education Bundle

Do you or someone you know have a child that qualifies for special education, but doesn't know where to start? This bundle includes several different publications that provide essential, comprehendible information to families who are new to special education! Included in this bundle are the following publications:

To order multiple bundles, type the quantity in the box and click the "Add to Cart" button. You can alter the quantity of individual issues by clicking "My Cart" and editing the quantity for each issue.

Special Education Resources for Families Do you have questions about . . .

The special education process or your rights?
Your child’s Evaluation Report (ER), Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or other documents?
Working with your child’s school or IEP team?
Ways that youth with disabilities can participate in their own educational and transition planning?

. . . If so, these free resource organizations can help with answers! These organizations can also assist families whose primary language is not English.

This publication is written in English on one side, and in Spanish on the reverse side.