Voyages
The SMCPS Department of Special Education Newsletter
November 2023
Voyages
Happy Holidays!
We are wishing you the very best during the holiday season!
As you know, big gatherings can feel chaotic for children who struggle with self-control, change of routines, and/or sensory processing. With this in mind, the holidays can bring on some unique challenges for students with disabilities. We remind our special educators to be mindful of this seasonal dynamic and encourage you to continue your communication with your child's instructional team, especially considering any anticipated concerns. We appreciate the teamwork that helps us meet your child's needs so that the holidays can be a time of enjoyment!
Special Education Community Night
We received positive feedback and are happy to continue to provide these opportunities to our already positive and supportive community!
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Spotlight on Special Education
Family Engagement Events and Activities
Have questions about your child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?
Your Child's School
This is the place to start as the school staff has the most knowledge about your child.
- Teacher - Your child's general education teacher and/or special education teacher have knowledge of your student, his/her goals, and progress in class.
- IEP Chair - Each school has an IEP Chair that has a wealth of knowledge about special education.
- Assistant Principal and/or Principal - The school principals have oversight of student instruction and support. They also know the staff and supervise all school-based decisions.
Central Office Support, DSE
When needed, the DSE team offers support to teams and families.
- Specialists - DSE has several specialists who can provide support in areas such as transition, assistive technology, and behaviors.
- Supervisor - Each school has a DSE supervisor assigned to support the department at your child's school.
- Director - The DSE director works with all teams to ensure appropriate supports are in place to serve our community.
We also have parent groups, PFS and CACSE, that work closely with SMCPS to communicate and support our families. See more information in the sections below.
We are all here to help you!
MSDE Special Education Parent Survey
The feedback is very helpful in our efforts for continued improvement. In our August newsletter, we shared feedback from the 2022 survey; I now have our 2023 data and am happy to share the updated information!
- 77% of our families reported that they were comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns to school staff. In 2023, this increased to 80%.
- 77% of our families reported that they were given all pertinent reports and evaluations related to their child prior to the IEP meeting. In 2023, this increased to 80%.
- 76% of our families reported that the written information they receive is in words they understand. In 2023, this increased to 79%.
- Also, in 2023, 76% of our parents responded that the are considered an equal partner with teachers and other professionals in planning their child's program.
These were just four scores that provided information regarding our families' experiences with our special education teams. Thank you once again; this validates our efforts put into continued improvement.
Partners for Success (PFS)
PFS offers many services to our families, including individual family support, a learning library, and informational sessions.
Please click on the website link below for more information!
https://www.smcps.org/offices/special-education/partners-for-success
Save the Dates:
~ December 13 - Transition to Adulthood: College or Career?
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm in a virtual format (see details below)
Zoom link: https://smcps.zoom.us/j/95892505006? pwd=NVpPKy8rQ1I1NmszNWdlcXdncjFRQT09#success
~ January 17 - Build a Binder: Organizing the IEP Paperwork Workshop
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center
~ March 6 - Social Security Administration: Benefits for Children with Disabilities
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm in a virtual format (see details below)
~ April 9 - Cooper's Voice, details to come
~ May 8 - Future Finances, Family Trusts, details to come
Citizens Advisory's Committee for Special Education (CACSE)
St. Mary's County Public Schools Department of Special Education
Website: https://www.smcps.org/offices/special-education
Location: 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650, USA
Phone: 301-475-5511 32206
Twitter: @DSE_SMCPS