Special Education Advisory Committee

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) meets virtually on the 2nd Wednesday every month during the school year.  During the meetings, the SEAC receives updates from the district, provides updates to members, and reviews proposals that require consensus/votes.  The SEAC may also host presentations and trainings.

MISSION

The Thompson School District Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is committed to inclusive education; by providing resources, supporting effective change, and empowering students, families, staff, and the community to enhance the quality of education for students with exceptional needs. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of the SEAC is to advise the Director of Exceptional Student Services on special education related topics and goals at the district level, including the needs and priorities of students with disabilities.  "To advise" means to inform, counsel, recommend, suggest, or guide.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Use People First Language.
• Respect others’ ideas and feelings
  • “hard on issues, easy on people.”
• Participate and allow others to speak.

MEMBERSHIP

• Everyone who attends a SEAC meeting is a non-voting member who may attend all meetings, participate in discussions, and serve on sub-committees.
• Executive Committee members are voting members who make resolutions and key decisions.
• All non-voting members are welcome to apply for the Executive Committee after attending 3 or more SEAC meetings.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• Represents experience & perspectives across TSD.
• Made up of a majority of parents/guardians of students who receive special education services & who are not also employees of TSD.
• Include a TSD staff member, student, & a community service provider.
• Must have a connection to TSD’s ESS as a parent/guardian, family member, staff, or community group.
• Board of Education members must be a parent of a student with a disability & participate as a parent first.
• The EC strives to have five to eight members.
• EC members are appointed for a one year term, at the end of each school year.

The TSD SEAC has studied guidance from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).

The CDE SEAC's partnership and advisory principles are described online; to learn more, visit the state's webpage: Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee.

• Specifically, you may choose to consult the "Power of Partnership."

For questions, contact: sammi.burchfield@tsd.org