Parent Advisory Committee

SSD Parent Advisory Council

There's no need to face special education issues alone. Support is as close as the SSD Parent Advisory Council (SSD PAC).

The SSD PAC, which is made up of parents and guardians of children who receive special education services from SSD, is a valuable source of information as well as an excellent connection to other parents.

The SSD PAC assists parents in:

Networking and communicating with other parents of children who receive special education services;
Becoming as informed as possible about the special education services their child is receiving and the school district that serves them;
Improving communication between their local school district and Special School District;
Creating a positive understanding and awareness of students with disabilities; and
Establishing a network of advocacy for local, state and national disability issues.

Since SSD was founded in 1957, parents and guardians have always had the opportunity to play an active role in the district. However, the Missouri State Legislature in 1996 passed Senate Bill 687 formally establishing the SSD PAC to ensure that a parent committee had equal representation from all of the school districts in St. Louis County. The bill, which directed the committee to consult on issues involving students’ rights and education, also set guidelines for forming the committee.

The SSD PAC consists of up to five parents or guardians – one voting member and up to four alternates – from each of the 23 St. Louis County school districts and from each of the five SSD special education schools. The parents or guardians of students receiving special education services in that district or school elect SSD PAC members.

Typically, the SSD PAC meets on the third Wednesday of each month at the SSD Central Administrative Offices, 12110 Clayton Road in Town & Country.

Meetings have been scheduled for 7 p.m. on:

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The meetings are free and open to the public. Download a copy of the Jan. 20 agenda (PDF). For more information about the SSD PAC, contact Amy Doyle at 314.989.8419 or e-mail adoyle@ssd.k12.mo.us.

View a list of SSD PAC members.