255 Capitol Street NE / May 16, 2016
Salem, OR 97310-0203
TO: / School District Superintendents and Special Education Directors
FROM: / Sarah Drinkwater, Assistant Superintendent
RE: / 2015-2016 Parent Involvement Survey and Feedback
As part of the State Performance Plan (SPP), Oregon Department of Education (ODE)conducts an annual parent survey to measure how well schools reach out to parents of children with disabilities and engage them in the education of their children. Each district is surveyed once during thethree-year sampling cycle. Survey results are incorporated into the district’s Special Education Report Card. In small districts, all families are surveyed; in large districts random sampling is used.ODE is working in conjunction with FACT Oregon (Oregon’s Parent Training and Information Center) on this important endeavor.
The survey results report the percent of parents who indicate that schools facilitate their involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities. The survey includes questions on the district’s efforts to partner with parents, the quality of special education services, and the impact of special education services on family and parent participation in the special education process.
The attached sample letter was developed by ODE. We encourage you to share this letter with parents at annual IEP meetings or include the letter during the distribution of the Special Education Report Card. You may revise the letter to include information on local parent involvement activities and volunteer opportunities.
We also attached a flyer for families who may be asked to participate in the 2015 parent involvement survey. Please share this flyer with families of children with disabilities residing in the following school districts:
Arlington SD 3, Astoria SD 1C, Bandon SD 54, Banks SD 13, Bethel SD52, Blachly SD 90, Central SD 13J, Central Linn SD 552, Coos Bay SD 9, Crook County Unit SD, Culver SD 4, Dayton SD 8, Dayville SD 16J, Diamond SD 7, Double O SD 28, David Douglas SD 40, Echo SD 5, Elgin SD 23, Enterprise SD 21, Fern Ridge SD 28J, Glide SD 12, Grants Pass SD 7, Harney County SD 3, Harney County UHS 1J, Hillsboro SD 1J, Huntington SD 16J, Ione SD, Jewell SD 8, Klamath County SD, Lake Oswego SD 7J, Lincoln County SD, Long Creek SD 17, Mapleton SD 32, McKenzie SD 68, Medford SD 549C, Milton-Freewater SD 7, Monroe SD 1J, North Bend SD 13, North Santiam SD 29J, Ontario SD 8, Pendleton SD 16R, Perrydale SD 21, Phoenix-Talent SD 4, Pilot Rock SD 2, Pine Creek SD 5, Powers SD 31, Prospect SD 59, Rainier SD 13, Reedsport SD 105, Salem-Keizer SD 24J, Santiam Canyon SD 129J, Silver Falls SD 4J, Siuslaw SD 97J, South Umpqua SD 19, South Wasco Co. SD 1, St. Paul SD 45, Sutherlin SD 130,Tigard-Tualatin SD 23J, Three Rivers-Josephine Co, Tillamook SD 9, Ukiah SD 80, Umatilla SD 6, Union SD 5, Vernonia SD 47J, Woodburn SD 103. (Random sampling will occur in all bolded Districts.)
We anticipate that the surveys will be mailed to parents by June 1st. If you have questions or would like a copy of the survey, please contact Jeremy Wells at 503-947-5782 or .