Measuring What Matters

Can we talk about that first meeting for a minute?

On September 24, a room full of parents sat down at tables with people they had never met and answered a question most of us don't get asked very often: what would make this year a success for your child? Not the district's version. Not the paperwork's version. Yours.

I watched people answer that out loud, some of them for the very first time, and I'll be honest, it was my favorite part of the night.

If you were there, thank you. If you weren't, I get it. Evenings are hard, and life with our kids doesn't always leave room for one more thing. You are still part of this, and this newsletter is how we catch you up.

What happened at our first meeting

We started the year the same way an ARD team does, with present levels. Where SEPAC stands today: we are written into Conroe ISD board policy, we have a home at the Jett Center for every meeting this year, and we have a lot of work ahead of us together.

Then we asked you two questions at your tables: what would make this year a success for your child, and what do you need from SEPAC? The response was overwhelming and will continue to shape how we move forward. Stay tuned.

Staci Belcher walked us through where goals live in your child's paperwork, what a well-written goal contains, and how progress gets measured and reported. Thank you for your time and expertise.

We closed with the Same Goals Card, a simple tool to help every adult in your child's day look at the same short list of goals.

Your homework, if you haven't done it yet

Send one email to one teacher. That's it. The introduction email on the back of the card is ready to copy, fill in, and send. Missed the meeting? No worries - we have linked out all the resources below.

And with the first nine weeks wrapping up, progress reports are right around the corner. Keep reading, because we put together some language to help you make sense of them.

Hit reply anytime with a question, an idea, or just to tell me about your kiddo. I read every message.

Warmly,
Krystal Eicher
Chairperson, Conroe ISD Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC)
conroeisdsepac@gmail.com

Progress reports on IEP goals typically come home alongside report cards, which makes the end of the first nine weeks the first real chance to put this year's theme into practice.

Remember, your child's growth is measured against where your child started. Not the class. Not a grade level. Not a sibling. Against your own kid, last year.

A progress report isn't a verdict. It's the start of a conversation, and you get to be part of it.

Missed the meeting or want a refresher?

Slides from our September 24th Meeting: View them here.
The Same Goals Card (printable PDF): Grab your copy here.

This year SEPAC is answering one question: how do you know your child is making progress? Before we plan the rest of the year, we want to hear from you.

The Start of Year Temperature Check takes just a few minutes, and every answer is anonymous. You don’t need to have come to a meeting to be counted. What families share here will directly shape what we cover at our next meeting on Thursday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m. at the Jett Center.

Scan the QR code or click here to take the survey. All answers will be anonymous.

What should I do first when the progress report comes home? Pull out your Same Goals Card. Compare the report to the two goals you wrote down in your own words. Does the report actually speak to those goals?

What if I don't understand where a number came from? Ask. Try: "Could you tell me what you are using to measure that? I want to understand the number, not question it."

What if the report doesn't match what I see at home? That's useful information, not a problem. Try: "What I am seeing at home looks different from that. Can we compare notes? You may be seeing something I am missing."

What if all I hear is "she's doing great"? Good news deserves details. Try: "That is good to hear. What are you seeing specifically on [goal]?"

How do I keep the conversation going? Put the next one on the calendar. Try: "Thank you, this helped. Can we do this again around [month]?"

Is there one rule for all of this? Yes. Ask what they are seeing before you tell them what you want. You'll learn more, and you'll still get to say the thing.

Can SEPAC review my child's progress report? Not directly. SEPAC is not a substitute for your child's ARD team or the district's process. What we can do is help you understand the system, give you language and resources, and point you toward the right person.

TEA has released new state rules for special education. Most take effect October 4, 2026, and a few begin July 1, 2027. Several connect directly to this year's theme.

As of October 4:

• Stronger present levels (PLAAFP). ARD committees must document your child's strengths, disability characteristics, grade-level expectations compared to peers, baseline data, and critical needs. This is Measure What Matters written into state rule.
• Goals can't just restate the TEKS. Goals must address your child's critical needs and the barriers to accessing the curriculum.
• More specific service schedules. IEPs must list frequency, duration, location, and time in and out of general education. Ask how your child's IEP says delivered and missed services will be documented.
• Annual ARD within 365 days of the last one.
• Placement changes require parent notice and an ARD meeting, and parents can request one.
• Time-out and restraint. Time-out use must be reviewed at least yearly, and restraint can't be used for discipline or compliance.
• Fewer goals in some cases. Some students may no longer need annual goals solely because they are served outside general education, if grade-level content isn't modified. If you see fewer goals at your next ARD, this may be why.

Starting July 1, 2027:

• At least two benchmarks per goal, each with a timeframe, condition, behavior, and criterion.
• ARD notice moves to 10 calendar days.
• Finalized IEPs must reach parents within 10 school days.

Read the full update from TEA: https://tea.texas.gov/special-populations-and-support/special-education/back-to-school-updates-2026.pdf