Ohio's SAPEC seeks applicants

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OHIO'S STATE ADVISORY PANEL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN SEEKS

APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP APPOINTMENT

***(Note: Applications due on or before Feb. 27, 2009)***

The Ohio State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children (SAPEC) is

currently seeking applicants for membership terms beginning July 1,

2009. The SAPEC advises the Ohio Department of Education on the

education of children with disabilities. The SAPEC's purpose is to

provide a board base of input to the Office for Exceptional Children

(OEC) and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding

policies, practices and issues related to the education of children

and youth with disabilities who are between the ages of birth

through twenty-one years of age. In addition to the required

federal mandates, the SAPEC will investigate best practices and

anticipate future needs for special education in Ohio.

SAPEC membership must comply with categories listed in the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004

(IDEA). These categories are: (1) parents or legal guardians of

children/persons with disabilities (ages birth through 26); (2)

individuals with disabilities; (3) teachers; (4) representatives of

institutions of higher education that prepare special education and

related services personnel; (5) state and local education officials,

including officials who carry out activities under subtitle B of

title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; (6)

administrators of programs for children with disabilities; (7)

representatives of other state agencies involved in the financing or

delivery of related services to children with disabilities; (8)

representatives of private schools and public charter schools; (9)

representative of a vocational, community or business organization

concerned with the provision of transition services to children with

disabilities; (10) representative from the state child welfare

agency responsible for foster care; and (11) representatives from

the state juvenile and adult corrections agencies.

Preference will be given to applicants who reside in the following

Ohio counties:

, , Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Brown, Carroll,

Champaign, Coshocton, Defiance, Gallia, Hardin, on, Henry,

Highland, Hocking, Holmes, , Knox, Lawrence, Logan, Madison,

Meigs, Mercer, Morrow, Muskingum, ding, , Pike, Putnam,

Richland, Ross, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Tuscarawas, Van Wert,

Vinton, Washington, , and Wyandot.

Applicants must commit to attend four all day meetings per year.

The meetings take place in various locations in Columbus, Ohio.

While serving on SAPEC, members have the opportunity to be involved

and work in a collaborative manner with the Ohio Department of

Education's Office for Exceptional Children and other stakeholders

with respect to the education of individuals with disabilities.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction will appoint members

for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30,

2012. Application packets are also available from the Ohio

Department of Education and must be completed on or before Feb. 27,

2008. Applications may be requested:

• By mail: Jana Jefferson , SAPEC Nominating Committee,

Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, 25

South Front Street, 2nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215-4104;

• By phone: Jana Jefferson , (614) 466-2650 or toll-free

(877) 644-6338; or

• By email: jana.perry@....

• Or access online: www.education.ohio.gov Search word: SAPEC

Please distribute this announcement to all who may be interested.