Parent Engagement Network

Please see below for important information and resources regarding Effective Communication Strategies, Rights afforded to parents of Students with Disabilities, School-Based contacts for questions and concerns related to ESE/504, Where to locate the 2026-27 Student Code of Conduct, and much more!

Happy 2026-27 School Year! 🚌

Students use behavior to communicate needs, emotions, or challenges when they may not have the skills to express them appropriately.

Take time to celebrate your child's effort, progress, and accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Whether it's developing a new skill, becoming more independent, improving communication, or reaching a personal goal, recognizing growth helps build confidence and resilience.

By maintaining open communication with your child's school team and focusing on your child's strengths, you can play a powerful role in supporting their success both at school and at home..

Families of students receiving Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services have important rights, known as Procedural Safeguards. These rights ensure that parents can participate in educational decisions, review educational records, provide consent when required, and seek resolution when disagreements occur.

If you have concerns about your child's progress, services, accommodations, or educational needs, you do not have to wait for the annual IEP meeting. Parents may request an IEP team meeting at any time to discuss concerns and review their child's program. Your voice is an important part of helping your child succeed. For more information about your rights or to request a meeting, contact your school's ESE team.

Pasco County Schools provides a District Student Support Specialist (SSS) to each school to support staff and families with ESE, 504 and Child Find questions and concerns. The SSS is a parent liaison that can assist you with questions regarding procedures, evaluations, ESE Individual Education Plans, Gifted Individual Educational Plans and Section 504 Plans.

If you have specific concerns or questions related to this area of your child's educational experience, please reach out to the Student Support Specialist assigned to your school. They are available to assist you in ensuring that your child's needs are being met. Contact the school for more information.

Under Section 504, eligible students with disabilities are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). FAPE means providing the supports and services a student needs to have meaningful access to their education based on their individual disability-related needs.

When considering a Section 504 Plan, the focus should remain on the individual student. How is the student's disability impacting their school experience? What supports are needed for the student to access and benefit from their educational program? Are current accommodations effective, and have the student's needs changed over time?

By keeping these questions at the center of the discussion, families and school teams can work collaboratively to ensure Section 504 plans remain appropriate, effective, and responsive to the student's unique needs.

Pasco County Schools enters the 2026–2027 school year with a bold vision to ignite every student’s potential and create learning environments where safety, respect, and belonging drive academic excellence. Strengthened by deep partnerships with families and the community, the district is committed to shaping schools where every learner has the opportunity to thrive. As part of this shared mission, parents and guardians are encouraged to review the Student Code of Conduct with their children to reinforce expectations and support a unified foundation for student success.

2026-27 Student Code of Conduct

Pasco County Schools is committed to increasing parent involvement of students with disabilities. The Parent Engagement Network for Students with Disabilities (PEN) is comprised of parents, community representatives, teachers, administrators and other stakeholders. The focus of the PEN will be to share information, discuss ideas, review concerns and provide an avenue for input from all stakeholders regarding current initiatives for students with disabilities. Find information on upcoming meetings HERE.