Right to Education Task Force: IU 8 (Appalachia)

Right to Education Task Force: IU 8 (Appalachia)

The Local Task Force membership consists of parents and family members of children with disabilities, local IU representatives, local MH/ID office, the local Arc, area school districts and charter schools, and additional agency outreach programs.

The function of the Local Task Force is to support each other through dialogue, trainings, and networking. You should attend the LTF if:

• You are a family member supporting a school-age child with a disability
• You are a local public/private service provider
• You are a school district employee
• You have a concern or questions regarding the special education system
• You want to network with family members and professionals
• You are interested in finding out more about the Local Task Force
• You want to share information with the special education community
• You want to learn more about regulations and special education processes such as Evaluations Reports, IEPs, and NOREPs.
• And so much more…

The LTF is required to have 51 percent parent membership. Other members of the Local Task Force include representatives from IU 8, school district representatives, and regional special education service agencies. Parent(s) of a student having a disability are invited to become a member of the LTF. Membership is easy; (1) attend two Local Task Force meetings in a current school year and (2) request to become a member. There is never a cost to attend or to become a member of the Local Task Force.

Any parent, local school district representative, or community agency provider serving individuals with disabilities is welcomed and encouraged to become a member of the LTF.

Goals of the Local Task Force:

• To advocate for the improvement, strengthening, and expansion of educational programs for students with disabilities.
• To foster collaboration and communication among parents, schools, and community agency providers.
• To assist families of school-age students with special education needs by providing information and support to help with navigating the special education landscape, including laws and regulations that affect their rights to special education.
• To educate the community at large about the needs of students with disabilities.
• To identify local needs and challenges based on feedback from Local Task Force members then communicate these to local Local Task Force contacts and to the State Task Force.
• To assist the administration in carrying out the rules and regulations growing out of the Right to Education Consent Agreement.

If you are interested in attending the Local Task Force (Family Support Group) you can either contact your chairperson or vice chairperson. Your chairperson and/or vice chairperson is a parent of a child with a disability from your Intermediate Unit region. If you are interested and want to learn more, please contact your chairperson and/or vice chairperson or just show up to the local task force meeting.

LTF meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from October through May (excluding January). All LTF8 meetings are held virtually.

2023-2024 meeting dates/times:

• October 11, 2023 – 9:30-11:30 AM
• November 8, 2023 – 9:30-11:30 AM
• December 13, 2023 – 9:30-11:30 AM
• February 14, 2024 – 9:30-11:30 AM
• March 13, 2024 – 9:30-11:30 AM
• April 10, 2024 – 9:30-11:30 AM
• May 8, 2024 (election meeting) – 9:30-11:30 AM

Meeting schedule (times are approximate):

• 9:30-10:30 AM – regular business meeting
• 10:30-11:30 AM – informational session (presentation and discussion on topics related to special education selected by members of the Local Task Force)