Why Partnerships for Student Success in Special Education?

The Partnership for Student Success is a model to support parents and educators through information, encouragement, and resources, and provide a platform to input on school policy and programs relating to special education, outreach to all parents with diverse needs, to have common language across family-school-community environments.  

Partnerships for Student Success in Special Education encourages partners to create, build and sustain relationships to encourage student success of students in special education.

Partnerships for Student Success in Special Education, a model developed by NH Connections based on evidence based practices, helps to create and maintain school, family and community relationships and activities. The vision is to connect families, school staff and community members creating a welcoming environment and to engage family involvement.

Partnerships for Student Success in Special Education are an integral component of the school system. When a child is identified with a disability, families are asked to become more involved with their child’s education than before. They are to act as members of the team in making critical decisions about their child’s future education. Parents need the appropriate tools to be an effective team member, to make informed decisions, and to advocate effectively for their child. Parents need to learn the vocabulary words and terms used in special education. In addition, parents may need to be aware of school staffing procedures, dismissal procedures, and how decisions are made concerning educational placement of their child. Most important, parents need to know their rights as a parent of children in special education. In addition, parents may need to know recess policies, behavior policies, lunchtime procedures, and transition procedures to be an effective member of the team. Parents have valuable information to share with team members about their child.

The tools to provide parents with the knowledge to be a valuable team member can be offered through mutual respect and collaboration through Partnerships for Student Success in Special Education.