Special Education 101: Training of the Parent Member

When

Thursday, December 12, 2024 (9-10:30am)

This workshop will not be recorded.

Description

Find out about the special education process and resources to help parents. This training package is intended to assist parents, family members, and Educational Organizations (EOs), like the Migrant Education Program, in understanding the special education process delineated in education laws and regulations; knowing the roles and responsibilities of the various members of the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee on Special Education (CSE), particularly that of the Parent Member; and learning the techniques and strategies that are necessary for becoming an active participant in CPSE and CSE meetings.

Learning Targets

Participants will:

• Review the special education process (CPSE through CSE)
• Discuss the roll of the parent member and how they can support families, including reviewing their roles and rights, during the special education process
• Discover tools and strategies that will further enhance their knowledge of the components of the special education process

Use the registration form below to sign up! Zoom meeting information will be sent to those who register before the event.

Meet the Presenters

Jennifer Cacioppo, School-Age Family Engagement Facilitator, Mid-West Family and Community Engagement Center

Jennifer Cacioppo is a Family Engagement Facilitator for the Mid-West Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE Center), a position she held for the last five years.  The Mid-West FACE Center is housed regionally at Monroe 1 BOCES, and is part of the New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education, Educational Partnership. Jennifer’s role within the Mid-West FACE Center is to work with Educational Organizations to address areas of need related to family engagement in the special education process, to serve as a liaison between the New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education, Educational Partnership and local school districts and special education programs, and to work with educational administrators to implement systems change to improve outcomes for students with disabilities ages 5-22. Before her current role, Jennifer was a Transition Specialist with the Regional Special Education Technical Assistance and Support Center (RSE-TASC) for 8 years.  She has a Master of Education in Special Education, a New York State Permanent Teaching Certificate in Special Education, and a New York State Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Administration. Jennifer brings with her over 28 years of experience in the field of special education, teaching children as young as two years old through high school, working with families and community partners, providing professional development, technical assistance, and working with multi-disciplinary teams supporting students with disabilities. 

Laura Hurwitz, School-Age Resource and Referral Specialist, Mid-West Family and Community Engagement Center

Laura Hurwitz is a Resource and Referral Specialist for the Mid-West Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE Center). The Mid-West FACE Center is housed regionally at Monroe 1 BOCES, and is part of the New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education, Educational Partnership. Laura’s role within the Mid-West FACE Center is to support families in the understanding of the special education process for students ages 5-22, to work with Educational Organizations to build their capacity to engage with families in that process, and to build community partnerships to engage all stakeholders in supporting students with disabilities and their families. Before this role, Laura worked as an educator in different settings including Early Intervention, preschool special education, general education Pre-Kindergarten, and elementary special education. She also spent several years as an Early Childhood Specialist with the Regional Early Childhood Direction Center. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development, a Master of Science in Special Education, permanent New York State Certification in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-6, and permanent New York State Certification in Special Education. Laura is completing coursework anticipating a New York State Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Administration. Her current position allows her to draw upon 27 years of experience educating children and families in a variety of settings, partnering with community agencies and stakeholders, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams working with students with disabilities, and engaging families and caregivers in the facilitation and support of their children’s holistic development.

Registration

The content in this presentation is geared towards serving the migrant populations in New York State as defined under Title I, Part C and the approved State Service Delivery Plan, and may NOT be appropriate to all situations.

Please refer to the  disclaimers page, which includes the vendor notice, Google™ Translate disclaimer, and nondiscrimination and accessibility policy, before proceeding further.