FESPED-TN
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION – TENNESSEE
Building a bridge between families involved in special education and schools across Tennessee.
Resources for Parents
Resources for Teachers
Family Engagement in Special Education is a collaborative project of The Arc Tennessee and the Tennessee Department of Education.
We help to empower parents and caregivers and increase family engagement in Special Education.
This group consists of a team of individuals with background experiences as educators, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers of individuals with disabilities, and disability-related fields. The family engagement team members can provide the knowledge and support from an educator and parent perspective.
You can think of us as your bridge that connects your family to your school in a variety of ways.
We want you to find success in your Special Education experience.
Latest News from the Blog
Procedural Safeguards Quick Guide
When you attend an IEP Meeting, you should be offered a copy of the Procedural Safeguards. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to understand all of the parental rights that are described in that packet. The link below breaks it down into something that might be a bit...
August Family Engagement Networking Night – TN Dept of Mental Health School Based Initiatives
July Family Engagement Networking Night: Back to School/High Expectations
In July, Alison Gauld, the Low Incidence and Autism Coordinator for the TN Department of Education, joined us to talk about the new Teaching All Students (TAS) Grant that will be implemented at the high school level this coming school year. To view/download a copy of...
Dyslexia Screening Process
“Say Dyslexia” law (T.C.A. § 49-1-229) is a law that requires school districts to implement a screening process for identifying characteristics of dyslexia. You may have received a letter from your child’s school identifying that your child has reading difficulties...
“Say Dyslexia” Law
In 2016, the Tennessee legislature passed a law that is also referred to as the “Say Dyslexia” law. The law requires schools to screen for characteristics of Dyslexia through Response to Intervention (RTI) and to provide “Dyslexia-specific intervention” for those...
When Should a Child with Dyslexia be Evaluated for Special Education?
If a student is expected to have dyslexia, you may wonder what steps should be taken to ensure an appropriate education. The student may have some characteristics of dyslexia and be receiving intervention during the school day. A student may have been tested for...
Teacher Tip Sheet for Family Engagement Back to School Events
We are sure your brain has been running with creativity to make this year the best yet. Research indicates when families are involved in their students’ education outcomes are improved both academically and within the home and community. As you’re planning your...
Common Special Education Terms
These are common Special Education terms and definitions. If you are trying to learn more, we are here to help! Disability: A condition recognized by the law. To qualify for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), students must have a disability that falls under one...
Functional Behavior Assessment
What is a Functional Behavior Assessment? Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is a process schools use to understand why a student is acting or behaving a certain way. Here are some questions they are looking to address: What is triggering (causing) the...