Department of Student Engagement

A brief summary of what an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is and how it is created.

An online, interactive guide to applied behavior analysis to help children with autism spectrum disorder, designed by the Shriver Center.

Includes video along with several links to IEP documents.

A 9-session intensive training that offers parents and professionals a solid foundation in special education law and procedures.

This carries links to several articles and demos on how to organize children’s education records.

A collection of links to support parents as they begin navigating the process of special education systems.

A chart listing similarities and contrasts between education plans.

There are several options for tutoring that can help kids with learning and attention issues. From tutoring software to private sessions with educational therapists, each option has pros and cons.

Materials posted by You’re With Us include resources for assessing and meeting the educational needs of special needs students.

Resource center includes information on the following workshops:

• Building School Readiness
  Helps families to understand the importance of physical/nutrition, social skills, emotional and behavioral self-regulation, language and communication skills, attention and fostering the curiosity to learn. This workshop will outline ways parents can support their children’s learning in all areas.

• Building Effective Communication Between Families and Educators
  Explores the benefits of meaningful communication between parents and professionals, provides suggestions for creative ways to communicate with educators, and identifies ways to build positive, trusting relationships.

• English Language Learner Families are Powerful
  Explores the importance of family engagement in children’s education and how culturally sensitive approaches can support ELL Families in their partnership with their children’s schools.

• Families and Schools Together: How Families Can Partner with Schools
  Provides information on how family involvement factors into students success at schools and share a wide variety of possible ways families can become involved in schools to support student learning.

• Families are the First Teachers
  Reviews the importance of family involvement and the value of early childhood learning experiences provided by families that impact their children’s future academic success. Explores ways that families can continue to be involved in their children’s education.

• Family Engagement: A Key to Student and School Success
  Reviews research findings on the benefits of family engagement at home and at school. Looks at what motivates families to become engaged and identifies various ways that families can participate in school activities.

• Families Supporting Their Children’s Learning at Home
  Reviews the importance of families’ roles in their children’s education and how they can help their children learn at home. Addresses frequently asked questions from families about their children’s education.

• Fundamentals for Families: A Closer Look at Family Engagement
  A review of the Massachusetts Family, School and Community Partnership Fundamentals focusing on Family Engagement.

• Parents are Powerful
  Explores the importance of family involvement and ways that families’ engagement can make a difference in students’ successes. Addresses responses to families’ commonly asked questions about schools and their involvement.

• Understanding My Child’s Learning Style
  Reviews the different ways that children learn and how families and schools can support different learning styles.

• Understanding US Schools: Help for New Immigrant Families
  Provides an overview of US schools for immigrant families. Topics include the importance of the family’s role in helping their children succeed in school, the differences between US schools and schools in other countries, and student and family rights and responsibilities. Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.

*Non-public school programs are encouraged to contact FACET for family workshop fees

Engaging Families provides strategies to increase parent engagement in the educational process, both at school and in the home.

Provides a workshop to help parents better understand and navigate the MassHealth system providing an explanation of eligibility, premiums and access to medically necessary services.

Regional workshops on special education rights, advocacy, and collaboration that are provided to parents free of charge.

Recruit volunteers to be Special Education Surrogate Parents (SESPs), and provide orientation training and ongoing support to all SESPs. SESPs volunteer to make education decisions for students whose parents are unable to do so.

Modules examine how best to support families of young children with special needs.

The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA) offers an online continuing education program on accessible design and housing through the University of Buffalo.