Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee for PGCPS – Advocating for positive changes in special education.

>> Meeting Schedule and Registration Links <<

The Special Education Citizens’ Advisory Committee of Prince George’s County Public Schools (SECAC-PG) is an organization of volunteers. We are parents and caregivers of students who need special education. Your input is solicited, valued, and respected as part of our work to advocate for meaningful changes in special education in YOUR community. Don’t miss your opportunity to advise the Department of Special Education on educational matters that lead to achievements in students.

SECAC-PG:

- Parent LED: The executive board members are parent volunteers.
- Parent INPUT: Your voice and advocacy lead to meaningful recommendations.
- Parent EDUCATION: You help set the agenda.
- Parent PARTNERSHIPS: School and community stakeholders collaborate for change.
- General Assembly APPROVED: Maryland regulations require each school district to maintain a SECAC.

Qualifications: a willingness to be a volunteer and be a part of the conversation on achievement of all students!

General membership meetings are open to all. They are held the fourth Tuesday of every month* during the school year at 6:30 pm. There are no meetings in the summer (June, July, August) or December.

For more information, call (301) 431-5675 (The Family Support Center).

* When PGCPS after school activities close due to inclement weather our meetings will be rescheduled.

Download the Special Education Family Toolkit! (created by the PGCPS Family Support Center)

FEEDBACK

2024-2025 Meetings:

Meetings are currently being held remotely over Zoom. Please sign up to be on our email list, and we will send out a link to our meeting so you can join us.

meeting schedule

April 29, 2025

Autism and Mental Health Awareness

It’s Autism Awareness Month! Please join us at the 2nd Annual Department of Special Education Autism Summit!

- Ntuma Kamara, Resource Navigator at The ARC of Prince Georges County — “Project Live”
- Carol Kranowitz, author of “The Out of Sync Child” — “Sensory Differences: What Out of Sync Kids Want Their Parents to Know”

Co-sponsored by the Department of Special Education Family Support Center and the SECAC-PG.

Zoom link: https://pgcps-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsdemrqj4vEtFvLlq1Q9ZJB6DlTeuup10N

May 27, 2025

Feedback to the Department of Special Education – Town Hall Meeting – Session 4

Come hear the results of the Maryland State Department of Education’s 2023-2024 Parent Survey.

Zoom link: https://pgcps-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsdO2hrzIiGNb0xDPIfMxk7Xl8J23-U4Hl

September 24, 2024	Welcome Back to School! Resolving Concerns: You have questions? We have Answers. Navigating the school system when you have questions or concerns can be a time-consuming process. The Department of Special Education and The Family Support Center would like to provide information to streamline that process for you. Join us as we answer questions related to transportation, student health, and safety. We will have representatives from the Transportation Department, Health Services, and the Family Support Center. They will join us to share tips on how to get the information that you are seeking. Presenters: Trinell Bowman, Family Support Center Team, Health Services Team, Transportation Team September 2024 Agenda Special Education updates + Family Support Center information – presentation slides (PDF) Transportation – presentation slides (PDF) YouTube Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYEFAd_Y3nI September minutes
October 22, 2024	Feedback to the Department of Special Education – Town Hall Meeting – Session 1 October 2024 Agenda Presentation Slides (PDF) YouTube Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F25pYxKDio8 October 2024 minutes List of community concerns with responses from PGCPS Department of Special Education (coming soon!)
November 19, 2024 (3rd Tuesday)	PGCPS Special Education Programs and the IEP Process Learn about the Programs and Services available to students receiving Special Education in PGCPS, and how to navigate the IEP process. November 2024 Agenda YouTube Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe7mO5RkvFI Presentation slides Special Education Updates Programs & Locations IEP Basics – Marlo Lemon, Parents’ Place of Maryland November 2024 minutes
December	NO MEETING
January 28, 2025	Feedback to the Department of Special Education – Town Hall Meeting – Session 2 January 2025 Agenda YouTube Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUg2AtSQVDg Presentation Slides January 2025 minutes Community concerns & PGCPS Department of Special Education responses.
February 25, 2025	Planning for Successful Transitions Across Grade Levels! Come learn what to expect during transitions from high school and post-secondary to life after school. Dr. Laura McKenna of The Autism College Connection covered how to help students with different support needs prepare for the next phase of their lives. February 2025 – Agenda Recording on YouTube (coming soon!) Minutes (coming soon!) Presentation slides Special Education Updates What Happens After High School? – Laura McKenna, Ph.D.
March 25, 2025	Feedback to the Department of Special Education – Town Hall Meeting – Session 3 Zoom link: https://pgcps-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kdOuorT4jHdfsP75uolHUAyJ6gLingc7L Join us at our 14th Annual Parent Empowerment Conference! Starts March 18, 2024!

When we meet in person, we meet at 6:30 pm at John Carroll Elementary School, 1400 Nalley Terrace, Landover, MD 20785.

Share your experiences at your school so other families can evaluate their options! This website collects and shares information about special education programs and services in Prince George’s County, Maryland.