Join Your Local SEAC
Find your SEAC. Attend a meeting and observe. Discover how your participation on your local SEAC can make a difference for children and families in your school district.
Join your local SEAC! It's a great opportunity to work with other parents of children with disabilities to effect change across the district. You feel like you are part of something bigger than yourself!
- Rose Quintero
Minnesota Statute 125A.24 PARENT ADVISORY COUNCILS
In order to increase the involvement of parents of children with disabilities in district policy making and decision making, school districts must have a special education advisory council that is incorporated into the district's special education system plan.
Local SEACs advise school districts on the development of programs and services to meet the special educational needs of children and families. By sharing their unique perspective of what it is like to use these services, parents can help the district to be more effective. As a result, outcomes for children with disabilities should improve.
Parents give many reasons for joining a SEAC, including these:
Find your SEAC. Attend a meeting and observe. Discover how your participation on your local SEAC can make a difference for children and families in your school district.
Becoming familiar with your school district will help you to be a more effective member of your local SEAC. Gaining a big picture perspective on why and how policy decisions for all students are made at the district level will put you in a better position to work toward meaningful outcomes.
One of the most important tools you have as a parent to maximize your effectiveness while serving on your local SEAC is to ask the right questions. Use questions to start productive conversations that lead to an analysis of changes needed and possible paths forward.
The success of your local SEAC depends on the strength of the relationships among all those working to achieve it. A productive parent-school partnership will pay big dividends for its primary beneficiaries – students with disabilities in your school district.
Now that you’ve found your own unique role on your local SEAC, you’re ready to dedicate your energies to collaborating with fellow members and making your SEAC stronger than ever.
Charter schools are public school districts, and as such, Minnesota statute requires each to have its own SEAC. Like all SEACs, the charter school SEAC is responsible for giving advice about special education policy and decisions.