Announcement of Parent Centers

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) announces the addition of eleven (11) new Special Education Parent Technical Assistance Centers (TACs) across New York State (NYS), including five (5) centers in New York City (one per borough) and six (6) additional centers throughout the upstate region. The existing Special Education Parent TACs on Long Island and Western New York will continue, resulting in the operation of thirteen (13) Special Education Parent Centers in NYS. The centers will contribute to the implementation of the NYS Board of Regents Policy on Improving Student Achievement and School Performance through Parent and Family Partnerships.

The Special Education Parent Centers will provide parents of children with disabilities with information, resources, and strategies to:

promote their meaningful involvement in their children’s education programs, including information regarding the special education process (referrals, individual evaluations and individualized education program development and transition planning);
assist in understanding their children’s disabilities;
promote early resolution of disputes between parents and school districts;
promote the use of resolution sessions and special education mediation;
assist in understanding procedural due process rights, including the right to impartial hearings and appeals and the State complaint process; and
enhance parents’ skills and levels of confidence to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with other schools and other stakeholders to advocate and actively participate in their children’s education program.

In order to promote the development of effective parental and family engagement statewide, the Parent Centers will:

collaborate with public school districts on methods to facilitate positive parent involvement as a means of improving special education services and results for children with disabilities;
improve parent participation in the survey process to measure the percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities; and
assist NYSED to identify and promote effective practices for positive parental involvement in the special education process.

The contact information for the Parent Centers is attached and will also be posted on our website at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/techassist/parentcenters.htm or you may contact our office at (518) 473-2878.

To ensure dissemination to appropriate individuals within a school district, I ask Superintendents to please share this memorandum with individuals such as Directors of Special Education, School Psychologists, Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) Chairpersons, Guidance Counselors, Directors of Pupil Personnel and Parent Teacher Associations.

*Please note: If you would like to receive notification of our publications via e-mail, register at www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/register.htm

TO:	District Superintendents
	Superintendents of Schools
	Presidents of Boards of Education
	Superintendents of State-Operated and State-Supported Schools
	Executive Directors of Approved Private Schools
	New York City Board of Education
	Organizations, Parents and Individuals Concerned with Special Education
	Commissioner's Advisory Panel for Special Education Services
	SETRC Professional Development Specialists
	Regional School Support Centers
	Impartial Hearing Officers
	Mediators
	Other State Agencies
FROM:	James P. DeLorenzo
SUBJECT:	Special Education Parent Centers

Current Parent Centers
The Long Island Parent and Family Technical Assistance Center/Just Kids 887 Kellum St Lindenhurst, NY 11787 631-603-3300 Main number 631-603-3303 Fax 1-800-432-0199 Toll free Contact: Elizabeth DeFazio-Rodriguez - Program Coordinator erdr12@optonline.net Steven Held - Executive Director of Just Kids Early Learning Center, Inc. Dr. Ginny Barry- Project Administrator	Parent Network of Western New York 1000 Main St Buffalo, NY 14202 716-332-4170 Main number 716-332-4171 Fax 716-332-4175 Information and referral Contact: Susan Barlow - Executive Director srb@parentnetworkwny.org www.parentnetworkwny.org