News Update

Centers for parents of students with disabilities get extra funding

Six centers in California that provide services to parents of students with disabilities will get additional grant funding after playing a key role in helping families during the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday.

The Parent Training and Information Centers, among a network of 65 nationwide, help parents navigate the special education system and connect to services that address students’ academic, behavioral, emotional, mental health and social needs.

In California, the centers that will receive extra funding are Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund in Berkeley; Exceptional Parents Unlimited in Fresno; Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center in Novato; Parents Helping Parents in San Jose; Support for Families of Children with Disabilities in San Francisco; and TASK, which serves most of Southern California.

“Parents are critical partners in our school communities,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. “With these new grant funds, the Department of Education is continuing our strong support of the essential partnership between parents of students with disabilities and local schools. Parents, families, and caregivers must be equipped with the quality information they need to advocate for their child and deeply engage in their child’s education. That is truer now more than ever, especially as we know the pandemic impacted students with disabilities in profound ways. These funds will help to ensure students with disabilities are on the road to success.”


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