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Special Education Strategic Plan – Theme 5

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Statement of Commitment

In order to improve educational experiences and outcomes for students with IFSPs/IEPs, we commit to forging strong internal and external partnerships to create robust support systems for our parents/caregivers, students, and staff. By expanding resources, improving timely and transparent communication, and strengthening relationships, we embrace parents as partners with school-based and central office staff to engage in productive discourse and decision-making.

Objective

The DSE must build strong partnerships and support systems for families, students, and staff to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Currently, the system can be challenging for families to navigate in order to access services, highlighting a need for more transparent and accessible communication and resources. This lack of robust, collaborative relationships hinders parents from being fully empowered partners in their children’s education.

Theory of Action

DSE provides accessible and transparent communication and resources → Parents/guardians can navigate the system to access services from referral to transition → Parents are fully empowered in their children’s education

HCPSS
Strategic Plan
Alignment

Priority 5: Partner with Families and Community

Key Strategies: Enhance Family Engagement, Enhance Communication Channels and Processes, and Collaborate with Community Partners

Goals

Actual Targets
Goal Baseline
6/26/25 		Year 1
(2025-26) 		Year 2
(2026-27) 		Year 3
(2027-28) 		Year 4
(2028-29) 		Year 5
(2029-30)
11. Family response rates to internal DSE feedback surveys will increase. 233 surveys submitted Increase response rate by 10% = 256 – – – Increase response rate by 20%
12. Family response rates for question 5: “Did you feel like you were viewed and included as a partner with the school members of the IEP team?” will increase. 4.39/5
Between “mostly” and “very much so” 		4.42 4.45 4.48 4.5 4.52
13. The number of state complaints and subsequent violations will decrease. 23
state complaints and subsequent violations 		21 19 17 15 Reduce by 50%
12

Strategies

Strategy 1

Action Steps

HCPSS will add 5 new sessions to the parent information series in the 2025-2026 school.

  1. Conduct parent surveys to identify top 5 topics to add.

Enhancements to the HCPSS website to include:

  1. How and when to make a referral to ITP or IEP
  2. Survey parent, community, and school staff for website enhancement recommendations
  3. Update continuum of services descriptions
  4. Generate and post description of existing and new parent sessions
  5. Strategic plan updates
  6. List of Non-Public Programs (as required by law)

Develop Family Navigator position(s) to support family and school team collaboration through the IEP process.

Update and Create 1-pager documents regarding HCPSS continuum

  1. Review and update current 1 page parent documents by December 1, 2025.
  2. Survey parent, community, and school staff for any additional parent documents.
  3. Translate current and new documents as needed

Create a special education procedural guide for families that goes beyond compliance and adequately describes resources and service delivery options to include a process for elevating concerns regarding IFSP/IEP procedures and recommendations.

Progress Monitoring/Indicators

90% or more participants agree or highly agree that the session outcomes were met.

Timeline: Survey of offerings completed by September 30, 2025

80% or more parents rate sessions as effective/highly effective.

Timeline: Sessions identified by October 30, 2025

Research and Design Family Navigator Positions for FY27 budget.

Develop family navigator job description by June 2026.

90% or more participants have a clear or very clear understanding of services, processes, and continuum for staff, families and community as indicated by the IEP Survey Card.

80% or more parents rate sessions as effective/highly effective.

Timeline: Sessions designed and implemented by June 30, 2026

Strategy 2

Engage with community organizations to create a support system for parents.

Action Steps

Continue/expand Parents as Hosts program.

Redefine monthly “community partner” meetings to include and engage additional stakeholders.

Progress Monitoring/Indicators

Feedback from participants

Strategy 3

Implement regular proactive feedback loops with families and the community.

Action Steps

Utilize community advocacy groups to inform the on-going evolution of the Special Education Strategic Plan.

  • Partner with SECAC leadership to review progress and make adjustments to the plan and implementation.
  • Partner with the Superintendent’s Special Education Advisory to make adjustments to the plan and implementation.

Examine and revise as necessary, internal IEP survey card.

Identify creative ways to advertise and engage families in the MSDE Parent Survey IIFSP and IEP) and HCPSS IEP Survey Card.

Engage with community partners to develop additional opportunities to celebrate successes.

Implement focus groups with parent and community stakeholders annually.

Expand use of IFSP Exit Survey Interview.

Progress Monitoring/Indicators

Increase participation in MSDE parent survey from 10% in FY22 to at least 14% by FY 26.

Increase completion of the HCPSS IEP survey card from 233 to 300 by June 30, 2026.