Community Advisory Committee for Special Education Meeting

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: Adult Transition Program, 3132 E. Fairmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93726

MINUTES

Welcome (Carmen T.) – 6:10 pm

CAC stands for the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education, a volunteer group composed predominantly of parents of children with special needs who attend school within the Fresno Unified School District.  CAC is a group of parents, school personnel, and other community members who work together to ensure that children with special needs receive the best education available.  CAC meets once a month to identify the needs of students with special needs in our district and advises the district on issues relating to special education.  CAC works to provide information to parents and also listens to parents’ concerns.  CAC’s ultimate purpose is to participate in a partnership with the school district that enhances the education of each child with special needs.  Fresno Unified is required by law to have a CAC.

CAC Respect Agreement:

·       Recognize and respect differences of perspective and style of the CAC among members, staff, students, parents/guardians and the community.

·       Act with dignity and understand the implications of demeanor and behavior.

·       When speaking of your concerns, please do not use your student’s name or the school location.  Please respect the confidentiality and needs of your student.

For more information or to contact the CAC, follow on Facebook @FUSD CAC or email fusd.cac@gmail.com.  The CAC is always accepting new members.  If you would like to join the CAC, please go the CAC website to fill out an application (https://www.fresnounified.org/departments/special-education/community-advisory-committee/cac-application).

Roll Call (Vice-Chair Aoki)

12 members were present; quorum was met.

Agenda Approval (Carmen T.)

Motion to accept: 1^st Cathye E., 2^nd Patricia C. – 12 Yeas/0 Nays

Previous Month’s Minutes – January 14, 2025 (Carmen T.)

Motion to accept: 1^st Eileen G., 2^nd Steven V. – 12 Yeas/0 Nays

Membership (Vice-Chair Aoki)

None were present nor voted in.

Uniform Complaint Code (presented by Elizabeth Gutierrez Toledo, Ombudsperson, FUSD)

The Annual Notification of the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) for the 2024-25 school year was presented, and a hard copy was handed out.

Early Learning (presented by Angela Dryden & Maria Ceballos Tapia)

Early Learning has partnered with the Special Education Department since 2017. Beginning in 2022-23, the budget proposes pre-kindergarten investments to create a “14^th grade” of public education by 2025-26. A grant for Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program has enabled inclusive options for preschoolers over the last 4 years and additional opportunities for children with moderate to severe needs in the Least Restrictive Environment.  Current program models are co-teach (serving higher-needs preschool and TK in each region) and itinerant (preschool only for low to moderate needs at regional site-based locations).  Prior to 2019 CSUF had the only program.  Now options are CSUF, 7 preschool co-teach, 7 TK co-teach, 7 preschool site-based itinerant, 5 regional itinerant, and 1 CDC.  The grant ended in December and has been applied for again.  It will be used to cover professional learning, facilities improvements, and materials and supplies. 

Question – How do you determine the location/site?

Must go into licensed facilities, appropriate location, GE teachers with a ready mindset, currently have enough space for enrolled students.

Educational Partners Forum

Patrick M. – Four more meetings for this school year.  Please  attend the rest of the meetings.

McLane Special Day Classes are being reformed.  No update yet

Michelle S. – Maddy loves Fresno City College.  She used to go to the pre-kindergarten program at CSUF.

Announcements

Next Upcoming CAC Meeting: March 11, 2025

Closing & Adjournment (Carmen T.) – 7:19 p.m.

Motion to accept: 1^st Eileen G., 2^nd Amy A.– 12 Yeas/0 Nays