Schools Engaging Families
SPRING 2026 Edition
"We're Here All Year"
Celebrating 50 Years - Happy Anniversary, IDEA!
February 25-27 was buzzing with excitement in Hershey, PA! Over 1,200 onsite and 200 online participants gathered for the annual Pennsylvania Department of Education/Bureau of Special Education and PaTTAN conference, Making a Difference: Educational Practices That Work! The event was enjoyed by educators, community members, and families, coming together with a common goal---to improve the education of Pennsylvania students with disabilities.
In addition to thought-provoking sessions and keynotes, posters by educators and groups across the Commonwealth, vendors, the Student Shoppe, BSE vs. PaTTAN bocce tournament, great food and fun, attendees celebrated the golden anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The 50-year milestone was particularly special because the "spark that ignited the flame" was Pennsylvania's PARC Consent Decree, the basis for the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142), which we now know as IDEA.
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RESTORATIVE CONFERENCING: Repairing Conflict and Rebuilding Relationships
This professional learning experience, Restorative Conferencing, provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to facilitate formal restorative conferences in response to incidents of wrongdoing or serious conflict. Participants will learn how to create a safe space for accountability, support emotional healing, and rebuild trust through guided dialogue and mutual agreement.
Wednesday March 11, 2026, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM - PaTTAN Central, Harrisburg
April 8 - PaTTAN East, Malvern - FULL
Target Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Counselors, Social Workers, IU TaC (behavior), & Families
Contact: Tina Rife, at 717-901-2278, or trife@pattan.net.
Math Resources and Strategies to Share with Families
The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center shared these TIPS, RESEARCH FINDINGS, and RESOURCES with PaTTAN's Schools Engaging Families team, and we are passing them along to you! Read about "Family Math" - a concept that addresses how families and educators contribute to how children and youth think about math (often, a not-at-the-top-of-the-hit-parade subject.)
*Tips for Promoting Family Math *Money Talks *Early Math Collaborative Library
*Multi-language Storytime & Activities Guides *Make it Math
Courtesy of the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center
Adapted from Patricia Weinzapfel's, Patricia's Pointers
Don't Be Tempted
...to use words that viewers might not understand or sentences that are too long. If you have to communicate something that’s already written…maybe from a data or federal grant report, read over what you need to communicate, set it aside, and then pretend you are telling just one person in a clear, concise, simple way.
Keep the Words Flowing
In conversations with parents and caregivers, consider working in affirming statements like:
“I love that idea.” “You’re right.” “That’s so true.” “I completely agree.” “I never thought of that.” “I love that you just said that.”
These affirming statements can build confidence in your parents and caregivers and encourage them to keep sharing the information you need to help students succeed. You can even use these affirming statements if you’ve already thought of the idea or if you don’t really completely agree. It’s all about keeping the lines of communication open.
Teleprompter Your Text
As you are composing emails or other communications for families, you might want to take a page from the broadcast handbook. Instead of writing “word walls” of dense sentences grouped into even denser paragraphs, try writing one fact per sentence, one sentence per paragraph.
Doing this will not only simplify your communication, it will create white space that will make your email feel more readable and less intimidating. And it will help you pare down your information into digestible chunks.
(Resources shared with permission from Patricia Weinzapfel)
APR: A Comparative Guide to Obtaining an Emergency Permit and Experience-Based Certificate
Need staff? In Pennsylvania, individuals can begin teaching special education while working toward full certification. This new publication, APR: A Comparative Guide highlights key requirements and distinctions between a Special Education Emergency Permit Type 01 and Experience-Based (Instructional) Certificate.
Top 40 Youth-Friendly Special Education Acronyms & Initialisms (Share with your students!)
Help your students understand and lead their own IEP process by learning the lingo of special education. Order FREE copies and shipping of the PaTTAN Top 40 Youth-Friendly Acronyms and Initialisms today! Share this publication with your students and their families.
And don't forget that PaTTAN's Youth Engagement Specialists ("YES" Consultants) can assist you, your students, and families in middle-, high-school, and secondary transition planning and success. Contact a PaTTAN YES Consultant at 800-441-3215 (Eastern and Central PA) or 800-446-5607 (Western PA.)
Education ABCs for Families and Educators
A tried-and-true publication that lists many acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms used in the world of special education. Education ABCs is a great resource to share with families during IEP meetings or any family-school event. This PaTTAN publication is also helpful to general education staff, faculty, and other professionals involved in students' special education services. Order FREE copies and enjoy FREE shipping.