Parent Involvement & Resources

Welcome to the team! Every parent and guardian has an integral role to play in their student’s education. When your student also receives special education services, that role expands considerably as you become an essential member of the team that will plan for your student’s individual education needs and goals. We encourage you to build a strong partnership with your student’s school, principal, and teachers.

Parent Partner Program 

Our parent partners are a group of SPS parents who have volunteered to be a sympathetic and listening ear to other families who are walking a similar journey through special education. Sometimes families just want a peer to connect with or talk to, and we want to provide a network of support for these families.  They do not provide legal advice, nor do they aim to create an adversarial relationship between families and SPS. Our goal is to create connection and friendship. SPS will facilitate the connection and you can build from there!  

To have your name given to a parent partner, please email Mollie at molliew@spokaneschools.org. We will connect you directly with a partner!

If you would like to apply to be a parent partner, please complete this form. Anyone can apply to be a parent partner! We will review applications and make sure you are a good fit for our families. By applying and being selected, you agree to have your name and contact information shared with any family who contacts us expressing an interest in connecting with a parent partner. We will do our best to assign you to families who share children with similar needs, who attend similar schools, and/or who are in your region. We will share your contact information with those families who are interested, but what you share beyond that is up to you.

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

If you are interested, we invite you to join our Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). We meet on the last Tuesday of every month, with a few exceptions. Details can be found below. We ask that you please register in advance. Thank you! 

Upcoming Meeting Schedule

• December 19th, 2023:  Restorative Practices: Join Erin Lipsker, SPS's restorative practices manager, in  discussion and questions regarding RP, including how it is used within special education. 
  • Location: Hybrid- In person at NewTech Skill Center at 4141 N Regal St, Spokane, WA 99207
  • RSVP Here: https://forms.office.com/r/ZJWFcjVWwK
    • When you RSVP, you will also get a link to register for the hybrid option of attending by zoom. 
• January 30th, 2024: Legislative Advocacy with Arc of Spokane
  • Registration coming soon!