Agassiz Special Education Parent Committee (SEPC)
Background
Approximately 21% of Agassiz's student population receives special education services. Students who receive special education services have been diagnosed with a disability deemed eligible for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Eligible disabilities include developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, speech and communication disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), emotional disorders, and physical disabilities such as deafness, blindness, etc. For a student to receive an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) the school special education evaluation team must decide that the student's disability affects his/her ability to access the general curriculum without modification. The IEP is developed by a multidisciplinary team of which parents are full participating members.
Purpose
Parents of students with special needs face unique challenges in ensuring that their children recieve an appropriate education that helps to prepare them to become productive members of society. Schools also face challenges in meeting state and federal regulations pertaining to special education and in providing the services necessary for special needs students to fully access the curriculum. The purpose of the Agassiz Special Education Parent Committee (SEPC) is to provide support to parents and school administration and staff in these important endeavors.
Goals
- Support parents of Agassiz special needs students concerning personal experiences, obtaining quality private resources, etc.
- Gather and share information regarding Agassiz, CPS, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and IDEA policies and/or legislation as they pertain to the education of Agassiz special needs students
- Educate, through a speaker series, the entire Agassiz community about topics relevant to the education of special needs students
- Raise awareness of the entire Agassiz community about special education disabilities, programs, and issues
Membership
All Agassiz parents whether their children receive special education services or not are welcome to join SEPC.
Leadership
Joanna Grenrock, Co-Chair, Agassiz parent, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Patty Koch, Co-Chair, Agassiz parent, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Meeting Dates and Times
SEPC usually meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 9:30am.
