GUIDEBOOK: Advocacy in Action – A Guide to Local Special Education Parent Advisory Committees

The very teamwork and collaboration that are at the core of IDEA are also at the core of a best practice in special education: Local Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (SEPACs).

An effective SEPAC (or Local Advisory Committee – LAC) takes the teamwork of the IEP process one step further, putting parents in the role of advisors who use their family’s experiences, unique perspectives, and expertise to influence decisions and help shape programs and policies at the local level.

An effective SEPAC is more than a meeting – it is an approach and a mindset that truly values the advice of parents. When parent advisors are valued and engaged through local SEPACs, they can work together with school district staff and community leaders to improve education, not only for those with disabilities but for all children.

The Center for Parent Information and Resources offers this guide as a road map to help bring stakeholders together, suggests strategies to help them engage in dialogue, and discusses best practices to help them work together to benefit the local community. It draws on experience and practice from states in which Local Advisory Committees (LACs) have been in operation for decades. Rhode Island school districts are encouraged to use this guide in developing and maintaining their Local Advisory Committees on Special Education (LAC).

To use this interactive guidebook, open the below link and click on Table of Contents at the top of the page on the right. A window will open and allow you to download templates, resources and website links.

GUIDEBOOK: Advocacy in Action – A Guide to Local Special Education Parent Advisory Committees