Parent and Family Resources
Family Support Services
The CCPS Family Support Services center helps families, educators, and community agencies obtain information, support, and resources to address the needs of children in all educational settings. Family support staff assists clients in finding the answers to their questions, resolving concerns, and making informed decisions regarding children's educational needs. Family support responds to inquiries about Carroll County Public Schools programs, services, policies, and procedures for Carroll County's special education population.
About
Family Support Services helps parents, educators, and communities to work cooperatively and constructively toward a positive outcome for students. Where special education is concerned we believe that an informed parent is the most effective advocate and will serve as an active and valued member of their child's IEP team. All team members are encouraged to use the center as their resource for IEP development and disability information.
We offer workshops on the basics of special education and the process, accommodations and modifications, understanding your child's IEP, and specialty in-services and workshops upon request. Family Support will present for PTA, support groups, and community agencies. We have resources for respite care, therapeutic recreation, Maryland waiver programs, and other community supports.
-
Increase parental involvement in the early intervention and special education decision-making process;
-
Increase collaborative relationships through information and training;
-
Assist families in resolving concerns and making informed decisions regarding their child's education; and
-
Provide information about disabilities and school system and community resources.
CCPS' Family Support Services Brochures:
English-Family Support Brochure
Spanish-Family Support Brochure
Family Support Presentation For Families
Lending Library
The Family Support Services center has an extensive lending library that includes, books, periodicals, brochures and audio/video materials. We are located in Carroll Springs School, 495 S. Center Street in Westminster.
Subject areas include general parenting, infant and toddler, autism, physical disabilities, ADHD, learning disabilities, hearing and vision impairments, mental health, and behavior and much more. Parents, students, and school employees may borrow materials. We would be happy to suggest appropriate materials if you need assistance.
Search our collection online from any computer! Enter the Destiny Professional libraries (link below) and select "Family Support" under special collections. You can search by title, author, and subject. There are also 2 websites on the Home Page that are free and readily available to search an assortment of topics.
You may call, email, or visit the center to request materials. When planning an onsite visit, please call first to ensure that the staff is available.
- Popular items may be placed on reserve and the patron notified when the material is available.
- A return notice accompanies all borrowed materials.
- Materials may be sent to the CCPS staff members and returned to the center by the interschool mail (pony).
- Parents should return the material to their child’s school or service provider.
Contact
SECAC
The Carroll County Special Education Citizen's Advisory Committee (SECAC) is a committee established by Carroll County Public Schools to seek meaningful input from parents, community partners, service providers, educators, and administrators on local issues about the achievement of students with disabilities. This collaboration enables the director of special education to make positive changes in the delivery of special education services. If you have concerns and desire to bring about positive change please consider becoming an active member in this constructive process.
Meetings
Date | Format | Topic |
Agenda & Materials |
Meeting Minutes |
September 15, 2022 6:00 - 8:00 pm Arc Carroll County |
In-Person
Recording |
Secondary Transition | GTYItimelineforfamilies1.pdf | |
October 20, 2022 6:00 pm https://meet.google.com/nza-dvqp-iju
|
Virtual
|
Town Hall |
|
|
November 17, 2022 9:00-11:00 am |
In-Person Recording
|
Best Practices for Behavioral Support | Agenda | Meeting Minutes |
January 19, 2023 6:00 pm https://meet.google.com/nza-dvqp-iju
|
Virtual |
Town Hall | Meeting Minutes | |
February 16, 2023 12:30 - 2:30 pm Arc Carroll County
|
In-Person Recording |
Meeting Minutes | ||
March 16, 2023 6:00 pm
|
Virtual Click here to access the recording |
Town Hall |
Enhancing Independence |
|
April 20, 2023 6:00 - 8:00 pm Arc Carroll County |
Members
By-Laws
Parental Rights
The procedural safeguards notice includes a full explanation of your rights in an easily understandable manner and in your native language. This procedural safeguards notice applies to children and families receiving services through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and also to children/students receiving services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The protections included in this document are established by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).
Click the link below for a copy of the Parent Rights: Maryland Procedural Safeguards Notice - Updated July 1, 2021:
Parental Rights - Maryland Procedural Safeguards Notice
If you require the Parental Rights document in another language other than English, please click on the link below.
Parental Rights - Maryland Procedural Safeguards Notice - other languages
Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia Resources
The mastery of skills required for reading, writing, and mathematics is normally distributed across the population. Approximately 80% of students will effectively learn to read, write, and compute, when provided daily instruction in the classroom. Students who do not respond to general education instruction should be provided with specific interventions to remediate academic skill deficits and progress should be monitored to determine whether appropriate growth is made with additional supports. Depending upon students’ response to interventions, specialized instruction through an IEP may not be necessary. If a student does not demonstrate an adequate rate of growth in response to intervention, this may indicate the need for an IEP Team to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine if an educational disability exists, and whether or not specialized instruction or accommodations are required for the student to receive FAPE.
Students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia may fall within this group of struggling learners. However, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia are not their own disability categories, but rather examples of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) under IDEA. Thus, having a diagnosis of Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, or Dysgraphia does not automatically qualify a student for services. The severity of the academic difficulty and their response to interventions, will determine which tier of support will be most appropriate, rather than the specific diagnosis. If a student with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, or Dysgraphia is demonstrating significant academic deficits and is not responding adequately to intervention, then the IEP team should conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine that the student meets criteria for one of the disability categories under the IDEA, and determine whether the student requires specialized instruction in order to meet their unique needs.
- What is Dyslexia
- International Dyslexia Association
- Maryland Technical Assistance Bulletin
- Wilson Language Systems
- Description of Tiered Reading Programs in Carroll County Public Schools
- CCPS Academic Resources for Parents
- MD College and Career Readiness Standards
What is Dyslexia
According to the International Dyslexia Association, “dyslexia is a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relationship to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension, vocabulary growth, and background knowledge.” Moats, L.C., & Dakin, K.E (2012). Dyslexia basics. [Fact Sheet]. Baltimore, MD: International Dyslexia Association
International Dyslexia Association
Defines Dyslexia and Dysgraphia and includes resources for families, including:
- Signs of Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
- Interesting Facts
Dyslexia-https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-basics/
Dysgraphia-/instruction/specialeducation/community/Documents/Understanding Dysgraphia (2).pdf
Maryland Technical Assistance Bulletin
Frequently Asked Questions and corresponding answers focused on Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia
Specific Learning Disability & Supplement (Focus On: Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia)
Wilson Language Systems
Endorsed by International Dyslexia Association
https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/dyslexia/
Wilson programs used in Carroll County Public Schools
Description of Tiered Reading Programs in Carroll County Public Schools
The link below provides a chart of Pre K-12 reading programs used in CCPS. This chart is not exhaustive.
/instruction/specialeducation/community/Documents/Description of Tiered Reading Programs.pdf
CCPS Academic Resources for Parents
Elementary English Language Arts-English Language Arts - Carroll County Public School District (carrollk12.org)
Elementary Math-Math - Carroll County Public School District (carrollk12.org)
Middle School English Language Arts - ELA - Carroll County Public School District (carrollk12.org)
Middle School Secondary Math - Math - Carroll County Public School District (carrollk12.org)
High School English -English - Carroll County Public School District (carrollk12.org)
High School Math - Math - Carroll County Public School District (carrollk12.org)
MD College and Career Readiness Standards
If you have additional questions regarding dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia or the information on this webpage, please contact administration or the special education department at your local school.
**Please be aware this document may be updated frequently.