Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative

Parent Involvement in Education for Children with Disabilities

The Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) is a service for parents, educators, and others interested in parent-educator partnerships for children with disabilities.

To reach WSPEI toll-free, dial 1-877-844-4925.    Mary Skadahl, State Project Coordinator, will answer or return your call and help you to:

•  decide what kind of information or assistance you need
•  find a parent liaison who is in your school district or CESA
•  find a special agency or organization;
•  find or develop training for parents or educators
•  find or develop educational materials for parents or educators
•  establish parents on school advisory committees
•  mentor parent liaisons within districts or CESAs
• learn about reaching agreement between parents and educators
•  find other assistance related to families and special education

Parents are an important part of their children's education.   The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that parents have the opportunity to participate equally with others on Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams.

• Parents may participate in any meetings about their child's identification, evaluation, and educational placement as a child with a disability, and any meetings about the provision of a free appropriate public education to their child.
• Parents' rights and procedural safeguards should be explained to them throughout the special education process.
• The WI Department of Public Instruction must evaluate how schools facilitate parent involvement in a sample of school districts and report it on the State Performance Plan.
• The State Superintendent's Council on Special Education includes parents of children with disabilities.
• The Department of Public Instruction established WSPEI and added a consultant position to support the development of partnerships among schools and families in the education of children with disabilities.

WSPEI is all about partnerships. Its goal is to help parents and school districts find or create the resources that will help them build positive working relationships that lead to shared decision making and children's learning.  It supports increased sharing of information among parents, schools, projects, organizations and agencies through networking meetings, conferences, person-to-person contact, and media.  It is based on:

•  Support and leadership for parents and local school districts
•  Collaboration with the twelve Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESAs)
•  Information exchange and referral to other agencies and organizations
•  Cooperation with the Community Learning and Partnerships Team 
•  Alignment with and access to state and federal initiatives such as the Parent Leadership Hub

WISCONSIN STATEWIDE PARENT-EDUCATOR INITIATIVE
1-877-844-4925

For questions about this information, contact Patricia A. Bober (608) 266-5194

Last updated on 7/27/2009 2:00:38 PM