Family Engagement and Your Child's IEP
Over the last several months we've been looking at the newly revised College and Career Ready IEP forms (CCR IEP).  There's one more very important question on these forms:   "How will school staff engage parents/families in the education of the student (e.g., sharing resources, communicating with parents/families, building upon family strengths, connecting parents/families to learning activities, etc.)?"
This question asks the IEP team to consider the best ways to engage the student's family in helping the student grow and learn.  Family engagement goes beyond involvement and participation and takes place when families and school staff truly work together on an ongoing basis, to support and improve learning and growth of students.  
  • What is the best way for you to be engaged?  Heer are some ideas:
  • Assisting in developing the student's IEP goals
  • Using a strategy developed at school to support learning at home
  • Sharing a strategy that works at home to try at school
  • Making use of family resources and networking opportunities like WSPEI, CYSHCN, WI FACETS or disability-specific organizations.

You can learn more about family engagement in education on the DPI Engaging Families page!
CONNECTIONS

Upcoming Events

Youth Leadership Summit
June 18- 22 Milwaukee
OR
July 9-13 Mequon
For high school students with disabilities who are interested in becoming leaders and advocates for themselves and other with disabilities.  Contact Matthew Zelmer, WI FACETS for information and registration.

Endless Possibilities Conference
August 2-3  UW Whitewater
Keynote and breakout sessions on special education, discipline, foster care, juvenile justice and more.  $35  Information and registration here.

Save the Date
State Superintendent's Conference on Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Issues
October 9-10
Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells

Information and registration here.

Online Resources
Webinars  from FACETS
All events  Noon- 1pm.  To register, call Sandra at  877-374-0511 
or
 visit FACETS online 

Supporting Literacy at Home During the Summer
 June 5

Skills for Effective Parent Advocacy
August 14

Importance of Literacy:  Parents & Schools- keeping the conversation going
August 22

Pediatric Mental Health Screening Tools & Resources
August 29

Serving on Groups 1 & 2:  Opportunities to Get Involved and Types of Groups
September 4

Parents in Partnership (PiP) 
Register now for fall session!
PiP is a leadership development opportunity for families of children with disabilities ages 6-14.  Participants will learn about health care, education, inclusion and much more.  Registration, food, overnight stay and resources are all provided at no cost. This program meets 5 weekends October- April in Neenah, WI.  Participants mus attend all 5 sessions.  PiP is a program developed and presented by the Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative (WSPEI) through a DPI discretionary grant.