The Special Education PTO's long-term goals can be summed up best in three words: Community, Communication, and Collaboration.
Monthly "Coffee Talk" meetings for parents
Parent Wellness Group
Board of Education Candidates Night
Educational speaker event open to the public each spring
Private Facebook group for parents (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SpEdPTOParentsofPPS/)
Monthly newsletter
SpEd PTO Liaisons at every school
New website & public Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SpEdPTOforPPS)
Annual focus groups and parent surveys
Annual Back-to-School Meet and Greet with Student Services Team
Annual round-table Discussion with PPS Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Student Services, and Supervisor of Guidance
Co-Chairs' monthly meetings with the Student Services team
SpEd PTO representation at Board of Education committee meetings, at PTOC monthly meetings, on the Special Education Program Review Working Group, and on interview committees
2020-2021 advocacy is focused on promoting inclusion and strength-based, person-centered planning and identifying and implementing best practices
Past initiatives include advocating for high school grant support, early schedules at JW, a buddy program piloted at CP, diverse library books, "Calming Kits" at JW, SpEd PTO participation in district initiatives, and a review of Special Education as part of the district's goal of enhancing equity