Special Education

Our PCMS PTSA mission is to ensure families receiving ISD Special Services have a direct voice in their educational journey, assist families in navigation, connection to resources, support and advocacy.

We work to ensure each Issaquah School District child is prepared for academic success as foundation for a productive life. The world thrives from people who see things differently, and we seek to nurture the different perspectives of Issaquah children through community and support.

The Special Education Committee Strives to Provide:

  • Advocacy: We represent the interests of special education families to the Issaquah PTSA and the Issaquah School District. We advocate for inclusion and accessibility – in school curricula, activities and more. We aim to improve communications between parents/guardians and district administrators.
  • Resources: We discuss and share information and resources in the community, and invite professionals to speak on related topics. 

Want to help? We’re looking for parents and members of the community to help plan and execute ideas and programs. If you are interested, please email PCMS PTSA Special Education Director Carrie Hipsher.

WEBINARS

This a series of short webinars about 10-15 minutes in length to answer 3-4 community questions regarding ISD Special Services. The PTSA goal for the webinar series is to provide ISD families with special education students a resource for answers to common issues. If you would like to suggest a question for future webinars, please email Issaquah Council Rep Betsy Grant.. 

Webinar #3) focuses on these questions –

  • For LRC1 families that chose the in-person hybrid option, how will push-in services be delivered? How will pull-out services be delivered?
  • For LRC1 families that chose to remain in the full remote model, will the student’s schedule or services change?
  • Can you explain what in-person appointment services are and who is eligible for them?
  • In addition to the annual IEP review meeting, what other circumstances would require a formal meeting of a student’s IEP team? How would a parent request an IEP meeting?

 

Webinar #2 focuses on these questions –

  • How should LRC1 families push back or escalate their request if their IEP team is not aware of the option for limited in-person support?
  • When a return date for hybrid in-person learning is determined, how will services for LRC1 students change – both for families who choose to return in-person and for those who remain fully remote?
  • For IEP meetings, can you describe the experience ISD would like parents to have? Could you suggest some steps that could be taken by families or IEP teams to improve the process?

Webinar #1 focuses on these questions –

  • Can you explain some of the process you went through in the Special Education department to get ready for the return to school students in the ECE, LRC2, and ACT programs once you received the go ahead from the district?
  • For the group of students that returned a couple of weeks ago and those who returning to in-person services just last week, what is the priority for the limited time they have in person? Can families do anything to make that time more successful?
  • Does ISD have a plan or are you developing a plan to allow LRC1 students access to in-person services ahead of their grade level peers in general education?
  • If parents / guardians do not feel their child is progressing on their IEP goals with their current learning plan, what options do they have to modify their child’s plan?

 

Resources: