Welcome!
Partners Resource Network (PRN) is a non-profit agency that operates the Texas statewide network of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI's funded by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) . The PTI Projects are: PATH, PEN, and TEAM. The Texas PTIs provide training, education, information, referral, emotional support, and individual assistance in obtaining appropriate services. In addition, PRN serves as one of OSEP’s six Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers (RPTAC) and works with Parent Centers in eight states and 2 territories.
What's New
Learning for a “Change” Summit VI
The Title I Statewide School Support/Parental Involvement Initiative is hosting the Learning for a “Change” Summit VI on February 13-14, 2012, at the Hilton Austin Airport Hotel, 9515 Hotel Drive, Austin, Texas. Sessions featured at the summit include:
- February 13, 2012, Terri Stafford, Margaret Barnes, and Skip Forsyth – Involvement: Schools, Parents and YOU!
- February 14, 2012, Dr. John Hodge, Creating and Sustaining Academic Excellence in School
Additional information can be found on the website www.esc16.net. Click on the Title I Statewide School Support/Parental Involvement Initiative icon; then click on Summits/Workshops. The registration cutoff is February 8, 2012.
Family and Community Engagement Seminar (F.A.C.E.S.)
The Title I Statewide School Support/Parental Involvement Initiative is hosting F.A.C.E.S. on March 1-2, 2012 at Holiday Inn Park Plaza Hotel, Lubbock, Texas. The two keynote speakers will be Ricardo Leblanc-Esparza, The Power of Parents, Students, Educators and Community Working Together, and Dr. Colette Taylor, Effective Community Partnerships. There will be 25 breakout sessions and two Featured Sessions; Featured Sessions will be presented by Anita Villarreal, TEA, on ESEA/NCLB Updates (for educators) and Aurelio Montemayor and Frances Guzman, IDRA, on Family Leadership in Education (for parents). For additional information including registration and hotel reservations, please go to the following link http://www.esc16.net/default.aspx?name=title1swi4.faces-lubbock.
“No Boundaries” Education
Educators spend a lot of time and effort modifying and adapting lessons for students with differing needs. Try the Universal Design for Learning approach CAST recommends to make lessons more accessible to all students from the start.
http://nichcy.org/no-boundaries-education
Helping Your 11th or 12th Grader with Career Preparation and “Fit”
Learn strategies to help your older teen prepare for a career – including real-life work experience.
http://www.ncld.org/in-the-home/parenting-issues
The Facts on Charter Schools and Students with Disabilities
This helpful resource clarifies the role of charter schools in serving students with disabilities. Use the list of links to find your state’s charter guidance, as well as to connect with “helpful websites” for more information. http://nichcy.org/publications/charters
State of Learning Disabilities
NCLD has released the State of Learning Disabilities: Facts, Trends and Indicators, which provides a national and state-by-state snapshot of learning disabilities (LD) in the United States, and their impact on the ability of students and adults to achieve educational success and employment. http://www.ncld.org/stateofld
Preparing the School for Your Child with Special Needs
Here's your head start for information to send to teachers about your child's special needs. http://specialchildren.about.com/od/specialeducation/a/schoolprintouts.htm
Need info about autism in multiple languages to share with families?
The USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities has translated the "Learn the Signs. Act Early" autism fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into multiple languages to reach underserved populations. Find the fact sheet in: Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese http://uscucedd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=455&Itemid=426 or English and Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/downloads.html
U.S. Education Department Announces New Measures to Safeguard Student Privacy
The U.S. Department of Education has announced new regulations to safeguard student privacy while giving states the flexibility to share school data that can be helpful in judging the effectiveness of government investments in education. The regulations will strengthen the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by protecting the safety of student information, increasing the Department's ability to hold those who misuse or abuse student data accountable and ensuring our taxpayer funds are invested wisely and effectively.http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-education-department-announces-new-measures-safeguard-student-privacy
