WSPEI: Creating Partnerships Between Parents and Educators
for Students with Disabilities

The Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) which has been in existence for the past twelve years, is designed to assist parents and school districts to work together to provide special education services for their children.  WSPEI is an Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Discretionary grant funded by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI). CESA 5 currently has two WSPEI/CESA Parent Coordinators, Martha DeYoung and Katie Zirbes who can work with parents and school districts upon request. 

What can WSPEI Parent Coordinators Do For
Parents and Districts?

• Serve as a source for parent-friendly materials about special education
• Disseminate information among parents, schools, organizations, agencies and commumities through networking and personnel development
• Mentor parents to become educated and positive participants in the IEP process and in school advisory functions
• Another part of the WSPEI Project, which also supports the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is to mentor and train District-Selected Parent Liaisons in each school district.  The No Child Left Behind Act gives parents more options for helping their children and WSPEI is a way to get parents informed and involved. 
• Help districts meet the Indicator #8 (Measurement of Parent Involvement) data requirements: including the parent survey process
• Support individual school districts in building strategies for parent involvement
• Collaborate with school districts to implement strategies including training for educators and parents' using a research-based personnel development model: a statewide list of trainings can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/par_traing.html
• Serve as a link for parents and districts to access state and federal initiatives
• Collaborate with the twelve Regional Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs)
• Collaborate among general education, special education, Title 1, pupil services and other programs to welcome and involve families