About the Addison Central SEPAC
Mission: To elevate the voices of families of students with special needs to help ensure equitable access to education for all in the Addison Central School District (ACSD).
Background
Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (SEPACs) are volunteer, parent-driven groups that provide input to local school districts on system-level challenges in special education and related services.
A group of parents, teachers, and district leaders worked together to establish the Addison Central SEPAC over the course of the 2022-2023 school year.
At a high level, the SEPAC’s work falls in three general categories:
Supporting families through information, events, and community-building
Collecting input from the community and channeling it to district leaders
Working with ACSD to improve district policies and practices
Priorities for 2023-2024 School Year
Developing resources to help families navigate the world of accommodations and special education
Working with ACSD to improve special education processes and practices
Working with ACSD to improve district culture around disability
Continuing to follow ACSD's efforts to build an effective Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
Check out this great resource to learn more about SEPACs in general
Who Can Participate?
Parents and caregivers of students who:
Have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan
Have a disability or special need (diagnosed or not)
Might need more support in school – for accessibility, academic, behavioral, social-emotional, or other reasons
Students with and without special needs or disabilities
Educators, teachers, support staff, administrators, and others in ACSD schools
Anyone in the broader ACSD community who cares about special education and related issues
SEPAC Board & Bylaws
The SEPAC Board organizes the SEPAC’s work and works closely with the SEPAC's ACSD Representatives. The Board is composed of parents (defined broadly) of current students with disabilities who are elected during the Annual Meeting in spring of each school year.
The SEPAC is governed by bylaws that were adopted in April 2023.
Collaboration with the Addison Central School District (ACSD)
The SEPAC intentionally cultivates and maintains a collaborative, working relationship with ACSD district leaders. In this spirit, the SEPAC Board works closely with designated representatives from ACSD’s administration and school board (see below).
ACSD also co-sponsors the SEPAC's Community Events and facilitates our outreach to the ACSD community through the district's communication channels.
