Special Education Strategic Plan –
Theme 5: Fostering Family and Community Engagement
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Purpose
Build sustained, two-way partnerships with families, students, staff, Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC), and community organizations so their experience and expertise shape planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Year 1 Foundation (Last Year / Baseline)
Year 1 established regular engagement with SECAC and community partners, included community representatives in leadership selection, developed a public program chart, planned a revised program guide, and explored an Administrative Review process to help resolve disagreements and strengthen family support.
Year 2 Actions (Current Year)
- Publish the Revised 2027–2028 Programming Continuum: HCPSS will evaluate 2026–2027 programming against student needs and use the findings to publish revisions for 2027–2028. The public-facing continuum includes program purposes and locations.
- Fully Implement Administrative Review: The district will monitor team implementation of the voluntary Administrative Review process to improve consistency while preserving families’ formal rights. Data on use, timeliness, issue types, outcomes, and family experience will inform refinements.
- Collaborate with SECAC on Relevant Learning: HCPSS will work with SECAC to develop presentations responsive to community feedback. The executive director will collaborate with SECAC leadership to identify learning experiences for the SECAC meetings that are responsive to community feedback.
- Strengthen Engagement with Community Partners: The recurring partnerships established in Year 1 will gather broader input, refine family-facing information, and work to extend outreach beyond families already connected to advisory organizations.
Key Actions
| Key Action | Point Person | Quarter 1 Report |
|---|---|---|
| Publish Revised 2027-28 Programming Continuum | Kris Ericson | Evaluate 2026-27 programming against student needs to inform revisions for the 2027-28 continuum |
| Continue Administrative Review (AR) | Melissa Brunson | Launch full implementation of the AR process; monitor implementation to inform process improvements and promote consistency |
| Continue Collaboration with SECAC Partners | Melissa Brunson | Collaborate with SECAC to develop relevant presentations based on community feedback |
| Expand Collaboration with Community Partners & Stakeholder Groups | Melissa Brunson | Collaborate with community partners and stakeholder groups to identify opportunities to strengthen educational experiences for students and families |
How Impact Will Be Measured
| Measure | Evidence Available Now | Year 2 Reporting Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Family Partnership Experience | The Year 1 survey received 168 responses. For the IEP partnership item, the tracker records 137 responses, or 81.5%, in the most positive response category. | Use 168 responses and 81.5% as Year 2 baselines; report the response feedback for the 2026–2027 school year. |
| Engagement Reach and Representation | Monthly partner engagement structures were established. | Report participation, communities represented, topics raised, and reach beyond families already connected to advisory groups. |
| Parent Contacts | 123 parent contacts through the Family Resource Center for the 2025–2026 school year. | Use the 2025–2026 school year contacts as a baseline for continued improvements and outreach. |
| Complaints and Resolution | In 2024–2025, 24 state complaints were filed, and 79.17% resulted in one or more violations. In 2025–2026, 35 were filed, and 66.67% resulted in one or more violations; three Letters of Findings were still pending when the tracker was updated. The percentage with no violations increased from 20.83% to 33.33%. | Maintain quarterly tracking of complaints filed, and continue to refine how the Administrative Review process can support families outside the formal complaint process. |
| Perceptual Data | Parent responses to the MSDE survey | Create and administer a yearly feedback survey to families, staff, and secondary students that aligns to the strategic plan themes. Utilize Spring 2027 as a baseline year for data comparison. |
Measures of Progress
| Measure | Baseline | Point Person |
|---|---|---|
| Family response rates to department surveys | 168 Responses | Joanne Hoffman |
| Parent contacts through the Family Support and Resource Center | 123 Parent Contacts in 2025-2026 | Joanne Hoffman |
| 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?” | 137 responses; 81.5% responded with a 5 out 5 score | Joanne Hoffman |
| Number of state complaints and subsequent violations | 35 State complaints filed, 66.67% resulted in one or more violations | Kelly Russo |
| Perceptual data from stakeholder experience survey | Not Available | Jenn Webster |
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