Engagement Opportunities Offered
LANSING – The Michigan State Board of Education Special Education Committee wants to hear from students, families, educators, advocates, school districts, service providers and community stakeholders across Michigan about how they want to engage with the committee and what they want the committee to know as it begins the next phase of its work to strengthen special education services, supports and outcomes.
Students, families, educators, advocates, school districts, service providers and community stakeholders from across Michigan are invited to fill out the Michigan State Board of Education Special Education Committee Engagement Opportunities form. The form provides an opportunity to share what they want the committee to know, indicate how they would like to participate and sign up to receive information about committee meetings, listening sessions, district visits and other opportunities to engage.
“Families, students and educators experience our special education system every day and they know where it is working and where we need to do better,” said State Board President Dr. Pamela Pugh, chair of the committee. “We want to learn from those experiences and make sure they help shape the work ahead.”
The State Board of Education in June formed the bipartisan Special Education Committee to focus on identifying strategies and best practices that support student success, strengthening partnerships with districts and families, and helping ensure students with disabilities receive the services, supports and opportunities they deserve. The committee is working closely with State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko and the Michigan Department of Education.
As initially planned, the committee has used first months to organize its work, review the special education landscape in Michigan, learn from existing work and recommendations and plan for broader engagement across the state. The public has also had opportunities to provide comment in person and virtually during these initial meetings. The committee is now preparing to expand that engagement by hearing directly from people across Michigan about their experiences, concerns, priorities and what they believe the committee should know.
“During my Listening Tour of schools across Michigan, one of the common themes I heard was the need to improve special education services,” Maleyko said. “We must put all Students First. There are outstanding special educators from Detroit to the U.P. who are committed to children, but there’s always room for improvement.”
The deadline for filling out the engagement form is Oct. 16.
Information gathered through the engagement process will help the committee identify common themes and priorities and help shape future committee discussions, district visits and listening sessions. The form will also help the committee connect with people who want to participate when engagement opportunities are held in their communities or virtually.
Beginning in November, the committee plans to hold engagement sessions and visit communities across Michigan, building on work already underway by the Michigan Department of Education, the Special Education Advisory Committee, Autism Alliance of Michigan, school districts and other partners.
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