F.B. Gwynn Center ~ 5998 Radio Station Road

La Plata, MD 20646

Ph. #: 301-934-7456

Email:

The Charles County Parent Center is a resource center for families with children with disabilities supported by the Maryland State Department of Education. The main purpose of the center is to provide the skills, resources, and knowledge that will enable families of children and youth with disabilities and professionals to partner in the educational decision-making process. In addition, the Parent Center provides information, materials, lending library, computer internet access, and support in the community.

The Parent Center is staffed by parents who have a child or children with disabilities. We have been trained in the IEP process and understand the difficulties of finding information and resources to help support you and your family needs.

The Parent Center is located in the F.B. Gwynn Center and provides newsletters, information, materials, lending library, computer stations, and a variety of free parent training workshops.

The Charles County Special Education

Citizens Advisory Committee

(SECAC)

The Charles County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) is in need of parent and community participation. This group enables the Director of Special Education to seek meaningful input from parents, community partners, service providers, and school administrators on local issues relative to the provision of a free appropriate public education and the achievement of students with disabilities.

Join SECAC now and make your voice heard.

Meeting Dates for the 2013-2014 School Year:

Sept 17, 2013 - Guest Speaker Dr. Bollich : DSM5

Nov 19, 2013

Jan 21, 2014

Mar 18, 2014

May 20, 2014

SECAC will meet on Tuesdays (every other month) at 6:30 pm. The meetings will be held in the Board Room at the Jesse Starkey Administration Building, 5980 Radio Station Road,La Plata, MD 20646.

Please join us to make your voice heard in the Special Education school programs and community!

SAVE THE DATE

Good news!The Early Intervention Services Family Survey is coming to families again this fall. Watch for this important opportunity to share how your family has been impacted by early intervention services in Maryland! In the meantime, here are answers to a few of your frequently asked questions. For more information, please contact Nancy Feeley at the Maryland State Department of Education, 410-767-0738or .

1) What is the Early Intervention Services Family Survey and why do I need to fill it out?

  • The survey collects valuable feedback from families on the impact of early intervention in Maryland. The information collected directly impacts improvement efforts for State and local programs for eligible infants, toddlers and preschoolers with developmental delays/disabilities and their families.
  • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires all states to collect data on the impact of early intervention.
  • The survey was developed by the National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring (monitoringcenter.lsuhsc.edu).

2)Who fills out the survey and how often?

  • Family members of children ages birth to 4 who were receiving early intervention services through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) as of June 30, 2013, are invited to complete the survey this year in the fall.

3)How do I fill out the survey?

  • Use a blue or black pen to fill in ONE bubble for each question.
  • If the question does not apply to your child and/or family, SKIP the question.
  • If you need help with the survey, please contact your service coordinator or service providers.
  • For families continuing services through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) after age 3 ONLY, please complete the two additional questions at the bottom of the survey.

4) Can I fill out just one survey even if I have more than one child in early intervention?

  • It is important to give feedback on each child. If possible, please fill out a separate survey for each child participating in the infants and toddlers program.

5)Will my responses be kept private?Individual child and family information or responses will not be shared. The summary results of the survey will be used to provide feedback for local and Statewide program improvement and decision-making and for reporting purposes to the U.S. Department of Education.

6)Will my family’s Early Intervention services be affected if I choose not to fill out the survey?

  • Your feedback is important. However, filling out the survey is completely voluntary. Whether you choose to complete the survey or not, your child’s and family’s early intervention services will not be impacted
    in any way.

7)How will I receive the survey? How do I return the survey?

  • Survey packets will be hand delivered to you by one of your service providers. Each packet will have an introductory letter, one survey, and a postage-paid envelope for mailing it in.
  • Please fill out the survey as soon as possible and put it in the mail using the postage-paid envelope.
  • The Early Intervention Services Family Survey due date isNovember 1, 2013.

We hope you will join us for this year's event,"The Next Generation of Testing: Common Core Standards, Smarter-Balanced, PARCC, and the Nationwide Testing Movement"on November 7-8, 2013 at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland College Park.

Please visit the link below for a list of presenters and a link for registration information.

Thank you for your continuing interest and support of MARCES and EDMS-sponsored events. We hope to see you there!

Elizabeth M. Lintz
Measurement, Statistics & Evaluation
College of Education
University of Maryland
301-405-3629 (TEL)