Arlington SEPTA Advocacy
With the National PTA motto “every child, one voice,” advocacy on behalf of students with disabilities has long been an important part of SEPTA’s mission. In the Summer of 2020 Arlington SEPTA formed an Advocacy Committee to bring more structure and organization to our advocacy as an organization. The committee is intended to further SEPTA’s efforts to address issues and support the educational experience of students with disabilities in Arlington Public Schools.
SEPTA’s Advocacy Committee will raise awareness of the collective needs of students with disabilities in APS and advocate for improvement where needed. We will also join with other PTAs to work on programs and policies at the local and state level. The committee will focus on the collective needs of students with disabilities in APS and will advocate for systemic change that will broadly benefit students with disabilities. At the same time, we will distribute information and resources to enable parents to be more effective advocates for their own children’s individual needs.
If you would like more information or are interested in being part of SEPTA’s Advocacy Committee, please contact the SEPTA Advocacy Chair, at advocacy@arlingtonsepta.org.
Current Projects or Concerns
IEP/504 Goal, Accommodation and Services Bank
Time and again we have heard parents say they would have asked for x in their IEP if only they had known it was a possible. While every IEP and 504 is written to address each student’s needs, many parents/guardians find they don’t know what they should advocate for in the first place. We hope that by providing this IEP Bank of actual APS IEP goals to parents and teachers alike, it provides a helpful point of reference and jumping off point for tailoring an IEP to your individual student.
Help us grow our IEP reference bank by sharing actual APS IEP goals. All identifying information will be removed from any information shared with us. You can submit goals here or by emailing advocacy@arlingtonsepta.org.
Summer ESY Survey Key Takeaways
- Transportation: Some parents reported that the transportation department was unhelpful or unresponsive when major issues arose. Parents were also concerned with limited bus stop offerings.
- Communication was lacking for many families, with some notable exceptions. In general, parents reported that there needs to be better communication on their child’s progress, what children are working on (especially for non-speaking and younger students), and access to services. Most parents were unaware what, if any, progress may have been made in ESY.
- Staffing was a problem for a few at first but resolved. However, for a couple, staffing was a consistent problem through the summer.
- Accommodations and Related Services were a challenge because most people did not receive communication about what their child was receiving or any communication from related service providers.
- Accessibility was ok overall but Inclusion was practically non-existent.
- Request for OSE: An open house/brief walk-thru for parents and students the week before ESY begins. By this time, sites should be near set up, teachers in place, etc. This is an opportunity for families to meet and talk to staff and administrators and know what to expect. An open house will support students’ transitions to a new site with new staff. It is also an opportunity for staff to start to become familiar with students and their needs before ESY begins. We believe this would help alleviate a number of the concerns families expressed in the survey, and be of benefit to students, staff and families alike.
What YOU can do today
Submit a Community Feedback Form Anytime
We don’t know what to advocate for if we don’t hear from the community. Let us know what is on your mind.
Recent Arlington SEPTA Advocacy
March 11, 2024 Wrote the Arlington County Board a letter opposing elimination of the Behavioral Intervention Services (BIS) program
April 12, 2023 Wrote APS Leadership a Follow Up Letter Regarding the APS Need To Develop Protocols and Resolve the Accessibility Issues
March 23, 2023 Letter to APS Leadership with Key Accessibility Concerns within our School Facilities
February 8, 2023 Letter to VA Senate Education Committee Re: Oppose House Bill 1461 Written with Fairfax County SEPTA and partnered with 21 organizations who undersigned the letter
October 6, 2022 Letter Re: Requesting Meeting Regarding APS Staffing Issues Written with ASEAC to Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Staff, and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
October 2, 2022 Information Sheet on COVID Accommodations
September 29, 2022 Comments on “2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools” Written to the Virginia Department of Education to oppose the 2022 Model Policies
August 13, 2022 SEPTA Letter to APS Regarding High Risk Students Access to School because of COVID-19 Written to the School Board and Arlington Superintendent
July 1, 2022 New Seizure Safe Schools Law takes effect in Virginia. Information Sheet for APS Families
January 22, 2021 School Board Meeting Statement on Universal Masking Requirements
Statement made by Wendy Pizer on behalf of SEPTA
January 6, 2021 Letter Re: Access to In-Person Instruction for High-Risk Students Who Require Universal Masking
Written to the School Board and Arlington Superintendent
October 9, 2021 Restraint and Seclusion: A Q&A from Arlington SEPTA
Sent to Arlington SEPTA community
September 30, 2021 Letter Re: Students with Disabilities in the Virtual Learning Program
Written to the School Board and Arlington Superintendent
April 5, 2021 Letter Re: Recommendation for School-Based Virtual Model in 2021-22 School Year
Written with ASEAC to School Board, Superintendent, Asst. Superintendent for Teaching & Learning, Chief of Staff, and Directors of Teaching and Learning
March 24, 2021 Letter Re: Addressing Ableism as an Equity Issue
Written with ASEAC to School Board, Superintendent, Asst. Superintendent for Teaching & Learning, Chief of Staff, and Directors of Teaching and Learning
VAPTA Advocacy
To learn more about advocacy from the Virginia PTA check out:
Inside the Issues
Learn about VAPTA’s Legislative Priorities including Health and Safety, Infrastructure and School Quality and view pertinent resolutions, positions, policy letters, research and resources.
Advocacy Webinars
Advocacy Afternoon webinars and Learning Labs are designed to share information on topics that impact our students and school communities as well as connect parents and staff with policy makers and specialists
#TakeAction4Kids
Learn how to get involved and advocate for our students and schools on a state level.
National PTA Advocacy
Advocacy Toolkit
Designed to help advocates speak up for the health and wellbeing of all children, it includes everything from writing your legislators to scheduling Capitol Hill visits—even to reach out to the media.
Advocacy Training
PTA’s Advocacy Training focuses on grassroots advocacy and our resources include content and materials that will help any local, district or state PTA build its advocacy capacity by creating a campaign strategy and training leaders and members on key advocacy skills.