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Cecil Partnerships for Children, Youth and Families


April 21, 2002

MINI-GRANT APPLICATION

Cecil County
Special Education Citizen's Advisory Committee
(SECAC)


Description of Project:

To develop a parent/community-driven advisory committee that works in partnership and includes parents, families, students, community members, disability organizations, educators and administrators to advocate for positive changes and enhanced services and supports in special education in Cecil County Public Schools and to act in an advisory capacity to the Office of Special Education, School Superintendent and Board of Education.

  1. Program Design

    1. Activities

      1. To hold monthly meetings to review data (local an state school system data, school and county budgets, national statistics, county-to-county comparison information, census, etc) and identify key areas of concern. Meetings will be open to all members of the public, as well as county agencies and school system personnel.

      2. Advertise/communicate meetings in local newspapers, periodicals, newsletters, flyers, websites and community list serves, to increase attendance and participation of targeted audience. **

      3. Identify top 3 priority areas for year one of the project.

      4. Outreach activities to include divers population (low-income, minority, etc.) via telephone, direct mailing, through health centers and other community agencies. **

      5. Provide childcare and/or tutoring services for students/siblings when parents attend monthly meetings and/or workgroup sessions. **

      6. Bring in experts/presenters/specialists to address priority areas. **

      7. To encourage participation in established workgroups as necessary to address priority areas.

      8. Provide training to parents, families, students and others to address identified needs (i.e. IDEA compliance, IEP's v. 504 Plan, transition to middle school, etc.) **

      9. Provide outreach and advocacy training & effective strategies to address system issues (to include local, state, federal focus).

      10. Encourage attendance of county-wide meetings (Board of Education, County budget, community input meetings, etc.)

      11. Provide written recommendation (with supporting data) addressing identified priority areas to CCPS Office of Special Education, School Superintendent, Board of Education. Formulate By-Laws and elected officers.

        **Activity will require some amount of funding.

    2. TARGETED AUDIENCE

      1. Description of Participants: Parents, grandparents, students, other family members, foster-care parents, neighbors, community members, disability organizations, support groups, teachers (regular & special education), Partners for Success Center coordinator, instructional assistants, school administrators.

      2. Number of individuals served through this project: Potentially hundreds. Targeted number of participants in the first year (school calendar) is an average of 30 participants at each SECAC meeting.

      3. Unique Characteristics: Parents, representing children/students; Students representing themselves or peers; Community members advocating for improved educational opportunities; Disability organizations to assist in advocacy, trainings; Teachers that have knowledge of programs, educational processes; School Administrators with knowledge of procedures, guidelines and regulations.

      4. Why is this population your focus? To provide information and training to address under-served and under-funded programs and to provide positive, constructive feedback to improve serves and supports for students with disabilities and/or special needs.

    3. DATES

      1. Dates of Project: June 2002-June 2003

        (June 2002 - September 2002: Planning meetings, September 2002- June 2003: Monthly Meetings and to implement activities as described)

    4. LOCATION

      1. Various Locations. Primarily public school buildings and community settings (Library, ARC of Cecil County)

  2. NEED FOR ACTIVITY

    Currently, there is no advocacy or community advisory organization that addresses the needs or provides recommendations or public input into improvements for public special education services.

    (Sources: CCPS, ARC of Cecil County, MSDE, MDDC)

  3. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM?

    1. To increase parent and community participation in schools.

    2. To improve communication between parents and families and school personnel/administrators.

    3. To promote positive, effective partnerships between all identified populations, participants.

    4. To increase parent and community input into shaping policy and improvements in special education services and supports.

    5. Educate parents, community and teachers about educational enhancements, improvements, and policies regarding public special education services.

    6. To promote and receive best practices from other SECAC's.

    7. To advice and make recommendations regarding enhancements in public special education to the Office of Special Education, School Superintendent, and Board of Education.

    How will you measure success?

    1. Increased parent participation at monthly SECAC meetings.

    2. Improved outcomes for students with disabilities receiving special education services and supports in public school settings.

    3. Acknowledgement from school admi9nistration as an "advisory" committee.

    4. Successful training of parents and community in advocacy efforts.

    5. Increased attendance in county-wide trainings.

  4. Staff (Voluntary positions. No salaries will be distributed through CPCYF funding.)

    1. Parent/Community-driven committee with participation by school system personnel and other organizations (support groups, disability organizations, business leaders, etc.)

    2. (Acting) Chair - Christine Moran (Parent)
      Vice Chair - TBD
      Secretary - TBD
      Program Coordinator - Kelli Nelson (MD Developmental Disabilities Council)

  5. Describe organizations history of providing this type of service/program.

    As this is a new program/committee, there is no historical data. However, parents and others have long demonstrated their desire to work with their community and schools to improve the services available to students with disabilities and special needs. Through networking opportunities with other successful SECACs (Baltimore County, Howard County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County to name a few) and through guidance and program support form the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, we will engage in positive, collaborative activities to achieve our goals and improve educational opportunities for students with disabilities.

  6. Budget Information

      Mini Grant Funds Other Funds or In-Kind Services
    Educational Supplies (Films, Literature) PRESENTERS/SPECIALITS (2)
    TRAINING WORKSHOPS (2)
    $1,100    		 COLLECTION OF DATA (CCPS & MDDC)
    OERHEAD, MISC. EQUIPMENTS (CCPS)
    Printing FLYERS, NEWSLETTERS, DIRECT MAILING = $300 COPIES, SLIDES, ETC (MDDC & PARTNERS FOR SUCCESS CENTER (CCPS)
    Transportation    
    Miscellaneous Supplies    
    Facility Rental   IN-KIND SPACE FROM CCPS, LOCAL LIBRARY, ARC OF CECIL COUNTY
    Staff   ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FROM MDDC (type minutes, collect, report data, distribute funds)
    Other (Explain) CHILD CARE/TUTORING - $540 ($6/hrx3hrsx3individualsx10 mos)
    ADVERTISE MEETINGS (News Ads, Community Calendars, etc.) = $350 ($35/mo.x10mos.)
    REFRESHMENTS = $200($20/mo.x10mos.)    		  
    TOTAL $2,490.00  


Prepared by Kelli P. Nelson
Co-Director, Special Education Leadership Project
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council


Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council Link