5/2/2012 SEPAC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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B. Making the PAC Visible: are among parents of students with dis- Outreach abilities in their community. Many PACs conduct some kind of "needs assessment" A PAC can engage in outreach by using to identify the greatest areas of need. various methods. Taking advantage of Conducting formal and informal needs as- internal communications or publications sessments, such as online or paper sur- within a district is one avenue. Using veys or parent focus groups, serves sev- publicity outside the district is another eral purposes. First, the PAC may ask avenue. A PAC can use the local newspa- questions regarding knowledge of the per or cable channel to run announce- , meets of its meetings or to report on its PACs existence and reasons for joining the PAC. The answers to such questions activities. It can request that its meetings be mentioned in school emails and news- will help PACs to refine recruiting letters, on a school district's website, or strategies. For example, if parents are via a district's telephone announcement not involved because meetings are held during the day, A PAC may consider system. It can collaborate with PTOs and ohaving occasional evening meetings to other community and school organiza- tions to sponsor high-interest events that reach more parents. guarantee a large turnout. It can request Second, by looking at the results of a to distribute information on Back-to- needs assessment, the PAC can then School Night, and can participate in better determine which priorities its community events such as Town Day. members believe are the best to focus on Many PACs have established websites. during a particular school year. Frequent, positive, and well-presented Third, information gathered from the information about the PAC and its accom- needs assessment can be used to fulfill plishments is helpful in keeping the PAC the PAC's regulatory responsibility to visible, thus reaching new parents. "participate in the planning, development, Some PACs have found that a brochure and evaluation of the school�E district's can be an effective means of explaining special education programs. Needs the PAC's purpose, spreading the word assessment data from the PAC can help about the group, and recruiting new the district provide valuable, detailed members. Brochures typically include a Information to the state as part of both definition of the PAC, a list of its goals the Coordinated Program Review (CPR) and mission statement, membership in- process and the State Performance Pian formation, accomplishments, and contact (SPP) information on the issues, names and numbers. concerns, and needs of the parents, staff, and administrators involved with special C. Particiat117 li'a the education can help the PAC and district P 9 work together for the benefit of students Planning, Development, and and families. For example, the PAC could Evaluati®n of Special Education Programs by Addressing the Substantive 3 SPP _ Massachusetts State Performance Plan. Using 20 Priorities of Parents Indicators to measure progress, the federal Office of Special Education Programs requires that each state Needs ASSeSSmi`'l1t5 produce annual performance plans and program ._ performance reports on special education. The Massachusetts SPP includes baseline data, targets, and A PAC chairperson must encourage the improvement activities for each indicator, PAC to learn what the primary concerns www.doe.mass.edu/sped/Spg. 9