Parent Groups

  • African-American Parent Advisory Committee (AAPAC)

    Description: The African-American Parent Advisory Committee (AAPAC) is open to all parents and community members. All discussion topics focus on issues that impact the Black/African-American community. District 300 staff work diligently to serve the needs of all of our students, families, and community members, and we honor and acknowledge that people from various cultures have different experiences within our schools. AAPAC was designed to ensure that our African-American parents and community members have a space where their experiences can be heard and validated. 

    Goals: The goals of AAPAC are to provide parent/guardian education and support, partner with families to surface and address school-related needs, and build community and networking opportunities for those within the African-American community. 

    Meeting Dates: AAPAC will meet on the following dates for the 2023-24 school year:

    • September 28, 2023 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at TBD
    • October 26, 2023 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at Perry Elementary School
    • February 15, 2024 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at Westfield Community School
    • April 18, 2024 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at TBD

    Previous Presentation Slides: 

    Click on the links below to view presentation materials from previous meetings:

    Additional Information: For more information about the African-American Parent Advisory Committee, please contact Adrian Harries at adrian.harries@d300.org.

    BilingualParentAdvisoryCommittee(BPAC)

    Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC)

    Description: The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) is a district-sponsored organization centered around the interests and needs of bilingual students and parents. The committee serves as an opportunity for our bilingual parents, students, and community members to engage in the educational process and shape education in District 300. 

    Goals: The primary objective of the committee is to work as a collaborative team with the families of students in the English Learners (EL) Program and our schools. The committee strives to provide family support and information about programs, learning opportunities, and family engagement activities that will assist and support the needs of bilingual families. 

    Meeting Dates: BPAC will meet on the following dates for the 2023-24 school year:

    • September 20, 2023 - BPAC Training and Title Grants Review - 5:30 p.m. at Dundee-Crown High School
    • November 8, 2023 - College and Career Readiness and ACCESS Testing - 5:30 p.m. at Carpentersville Middle School
    • February 15, 2024 - How to help students manage emotions - 6:30 p.m. at Westfield Community School
    • May 4, 2024 - Bilingual Parent Summit - 8 a.m. at Oak Brook Site
    • May 8, 2024 - Bilingual Parent Summit Report and BPAC Elections - 5:30 p.m. at Carpentersville Middle School

    Previous Presentation Slides: 

    Click on the links below to view presentation materials from previous meetings:

    Additional Information: For more information about the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee, please contact David Rojas at david.rojas@d300.org.

    FamilyCommunityNetwork(FCN)

    Family Community Network (FCN)

    The Family Community Network (FCN) started in partnership with the Special Education Parent Liaison over 15 years ago to provide educational opportunities to families. The purpose of this program is to educate D300 parents of Education Service topics. We provide training and workshops for parents, school personnel, and the community to improve the quality of relationships, provide parent networking opportunities/support groups and to develop and sustain school and family relationships. 

    Goals

    The goals of FCN are to provide training and workshops for parents and community members to support students. Topics vary from specific special education topics to general topics for all. Examples are: 

    • IEP, 504, and ISP Overview 

    • Substance Abuse Prevention 

    • Guardianships and Special Needs Trusts 

    • Helping students with ADHD 

    ALL topics are listed on the District 300 Website under Education Services. 

    Meeting Details

    The committee is facilitated by Shelley Nacke, Judy Ruffalo (Parent Liaison), and members of the Education Service Team. Meetings occur monthly.  

    Meeting Presentations

    • September 7, 2023 at 6 p.m.: Internet Safety for Students
    • September 14, 2023: IEP’s and 504’s--What parents should know
    • October 12, 2023: School Safety, Discipline and Bullying Overview
    • November 16, 2023: Substance Abuse Prevention
    • December 14, 2023: How to advocate for my child’s IEP needs
    • January 18, 2024: Supporting Students' Mental Health Needs
    • February 15, 2024: How to help students manage emotions - Executive Functioning Skills
    • March 14, 2024: TBD
    • Saturday, April 20, 2024: Post-secondary Planning - Time to think about it is now

    LGBTQLearningSpace

    LGBTQ+ Learning Space 

    Purpose: The purpose of our LGBTQ+ Parent Learning Space is to create a space that encourages community among parents and D300 community members seeking to learn more about concepts relevant to the educational experiences of those who identify within the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, this space should provide a safe place for parents who are a part of, parents who have children who are a part of, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community to engage in learning experiences around various topics concerning their children and/or students in District 300. This learning space also provides parents and D300 community members with resources related to our LGBTQ+ community.

    Outcomes: This space's goal is for our parents and D300 community members to walk away with greater knowledge about LGBTQ+ topics than before participation. We hope the increased awareness empowers and enhances our parents' understanding of how to best support their children.

    Meeting Dates: LGBTQ+ Learning Space will meet on the following dates for the 2023-24 school year:

    Previous Presentations:

    Click on the links below to view the presentation materials from previous LGBTQ+ Learning Space meetings:

    To learn more, contact Clarissa Saliwanchik at clarissa.saliwanchik@d300.org or Kellye Stefanski at kellye.stefanski@d300.org.

    LGBTQParentSupportGroup(LGBTQGroup)

    LGBTQ+ Parent Support Group (LGBQT+ Group) 

    Purpose: The purpose of the LGBTQ+ Support Group is to provide a safe space for parents who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, parents who have children who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community to discuss issues relevant to the educational experience throughout District 300.

    Outcomes: Participants in the LGBTQ+ Support Group will be able to partner with District 300 staff to surface and address the school-related needs of LGBTQ+ students, families, and allies. Additionally, participants will build community and networking opportunities among those within the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

    Meeting Dates: LGBTQ+ Parent Support Group will meet on the following dates for the 2023-24 school year:

    • August 21, 2023 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at the District 300 Central Office
    • November 27, 2023 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at the District 300 Central Office
    • December 18, 2023 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at the District 300 Central Office
    • January 22, 2024 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at the District 300 Central Office
    • March 18, 2024 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at the District 300 Central Office
    • May 13, 2024 - Topic - To Be Determined - 6 p.m. at the District 300 Central Office

    Previous Presentation Slides: 

    Click on the links below to view the presentation materials from previous meetings:

    Additional Information: For more information about the LGBTQ+ Parent Support Group, please contact Sydney Osborn at sydney.osborn@d300.org.

    ParentAdvisoryCommittee(PAC)

    Parent Advisory Council (PAC) 

    Description: The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) provides families a forum to learn about District 300 operations, policies, initiatives, and Board functions. Participants are also able to provide feedback on existing policies and those currently under review. While the group’s input and participation will factor into district recommendations, it is not a decision-making body. 

    Membership: Parent Advisory Council members are selected via an application process. Additional information regarding PAC membership will be provided to all parents at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.  

    Additional Information: For more information about the Parent Advisory Council, please contact Diane Stratton, executive assistant to the District 300 superintendent, at diane.stratton@d300.org.

    Meeting Dates: All meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:

    • September 27, 2023

    • October 25, 2023

    • November 15, 2023

    • January 24, 2024

    • February 28, 2024

    • March 20, 2024

    • April 24, 2024

    • May 29, 2024