Special Services Dispatch

• Message from Special Services
• Did you know?
• Case Manager Contact
• Updated Special Services Website
• IMPORTANT Annual Procedural Safeguards & Parents' Bill of Rights Notification
• Teacher Spotlight
• Business Spotlight
• COMO SEPTA Corner
• Important Dates
• CPS Best Awards - Show your Attitude of Gratitude

Dear Families,

Welcome back to a new school year in Columbia Public Schools! We are excited to start this year with you, and we hope your family is doing well.

As the school year begins, you will soon hear from your child’s case manager—if you haven’t already. This person is your main contact for anything related to special education. Case managers are encouraged to schedule your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting early, kind of like planning ahead for a dentist appointment. This helps make sure everyone has time to attend and be part of the planning.

In 2022, Columbia Public Schools updated its school improvement plan to focus on three big goals: growth, innovation, and achievement. One important part of the growth goal is helping students come to school more often. By the 2026-27 school year, we want at least 90% of students to be at school 90% of the time. Our department will work with schools and families to help improve attendance for students with disabilities. Right now, many younger students miss about 18 days of school each year—or two days each month. Missing this much school can make it harder for students to reach their IEP goals and stay on track with learning.

You might be wondering if IEP and evaluation meetings can still be held on Teams. During the pandemic, we learned that we can have helpful and meaningful meetings this way. This year, we will continue to offer meetings by Teams. Many families like this option because it helps them miss less time from work or home. If you would rather meet in person, we are happy to make that happen. Please know that some school staff may still join the meeting by Teams or phone.

We will keep emailing final copies of IEPs and any changes to parents or guardians if we have an email address on file. If you need help to participate in an IEP or evaluation meeting, for example, if you need an interpreter or a physical change to the space, please let your child’s case manager or the evaluation team know as early as possible. This will help us make sure we can have everything ready for you. If you want to record the IEP or evaluation meeting, you must let us know at least 24 hours before the meeting.

We encourage all families to visit the Special Services website on the Columbia Public Schools homepage. You can find it by clicking on the “Departments” tab or by going to this link: https://www.cpsk12.org/domain/109. The website has many helpful tools for parents and families to learn more about special services in our schools. You can find information like our department’s mission and vision, who works in our office, common special education terms, and local agencies that support people with disabilities. There are also resources about IEPs, evaluations, and planning for your child’s future. Additionally, you will find information about our Parent Information Nights designed to support families with timely and relevant topics throughout the school year.

Your child is unique and important and so is your role as their parent. When your child receives special education services, you are a key part of the school team that supports them. Your voice matters in making decisions that helps your child grow and use their strengths. To be an active part of the team, it’s important to understand your rights and how special education works. The Parent Bill of Rights and Procedural Safeguards included with this message explains these rights and steps. Some of the language may be hard to understand because it uses legal terms, but you are not alone. There are people who can help you through the process. You can contact your child’s case manager to get help if you have any questions regarding these rights and processes.

Additionally, we want to share the website for the Columbia, MO Special Education Parent & Teacher Association (CoMO SEPTA). If you care about students who receive special education services, this group might be a good fit for you. SEPTA is a place where families and teachers can work together, support each other, and share ideas. The group helps create a welcoming and inclusive space for all students—at school and in the community. They also share helpful resources and strategies. If you want to learn more, visit their website at www.comosepta.com or email them at comosepta@gmail.com.

Furthermore, we would like to invite you to join the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee. This group is made up of CPS special education personnel, parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in Columbia Public Schools and community members who support individuals with disabilities in our area. The committee meets 4 to 5 times each school year to talk about important topics related to special education. It’s a great way to share your ideas, ask questions, and work together to help improve services for all students with disabilities. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please contact sped@cpsk12.org.

Lastly, one of our continuous department goals is to recruit, develop and retain the most highly qualified and skilled teachers for your student. Parenting and educating a student can be very challenging, especially in today’s world. We encourage you to send positive words of encouragement and praise to your student’s school team. We’ve asked that teachers provide the same level of encouragement to parents regarding their student. It takes a village!

Respectfully,

Alyse Monsees & Liana Vessell

Executive Director & Director of Special Services

Your Child’s Case Manager
The case manager is your child’s primary contact for their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Within the first few days of school, case managers will reach out to introduce themselves, learn your preferred method of communication, and begin building a strong partnership for the year. They will also share the names of the service providers working with your child and may work with you to identify a tentative date for your child’s annual IEP meeting. If you have questions about your child’s special education services, please contact your case manager. If you do not hear from them within the first few days of school, you may reach out to your building’s special education department chair for assistance. A list of department chairs is available on our updated website. https://www.cpsk12.org/departments/special-services/special-education-building-department-chairs

Updated Website:

Our Special Services website has been updated with new information and resources for the upcoming school year! Be sure to check it out to learn more about our department and supports available to your student.

https://www.cpsk12.org/departments/special-services/about

Procedural Safeguards & Parent Bill of Rights

The district is required to provide the Procedural Safeguards & Parent Bill of Rights yearly to all students eligible for special education services. Please find your procedural Safeguards & Parent Bill of Rights linked below.

*For other language translations, please contact the Special Services Office.

We’re excited to feature Schnucks as our Business Spotlight! Grocery stores offer countless opportunities to build essential employment skills—from conditioning the store (Conditioning refers to maintaining store shelves by organizing, stocking, and ensuring products are properly displayed.) to bagging groceries , customer service and teamwork. We’re thrilled that our students can develop critical work readiness skills in such a dynamic environment. We deeply appreciate Schnucks’ commitment to inclusivity, offering enriching experiences to both Work Block and RISE students.

Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) provides families and educators with an organizational structure, resources and the opportunity to be a collective voice for their special needs children.

• Aug 18 - Jump Start Day for 6th and 9th Graders
• Aug 19 - First Day for K-12 Students
• Sept 1 - No School (Labor Day)
  
• Sept 22 - No School for students
• October 9 - Early Release
• October 10 - No School for students
• November 4 & 14 - No School for students
• Nov 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break
• December 22- January 2 - Winter Break

Email: lvessell@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/domain/109
Location: 1818 West Worley Street, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: 573.214.3459