Parent Involvement
Thank you for your support and dedication to the students of Gilbert Public Schools!
Parent Councils
Special Education Parent Council
Special Education Parent Council
We are parents of special needs children who attend Gilbert schools. We have volunteered to serve on this Council because we strongly believe we can make a difference in our special education community.
Through our efforts, we hope to enable you to become effective advocates for your children.
Our focus is on:
- Acting as liaisons between the district, the schools, and families regarding special education issues
- Responding to parents' information needs
- Providing training to parents
- Encouraging the development of the Gilbert special education community.
In addition, some members of the Council have undergone training to become IEP Parent Partners. This training goes in-depth into the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and the evaluation process. These Gilbert parents want to ensure that all parents are fully participating members of the IEP team.
IEP Parent Partners
What can you expect from an IEP Parent Partner?
IEP Parent Partners can facilitate communication between parents and school staff, provide reassurance and additional resources, and help build positive relations among parents and school staff. Their goal is to empower parents through the IEP process.
What is an IEP Parent Partner?
An IEP Parent Partner is someone who has attended a minimum of three pieces of training on the IEP process conducted by Raising Special Kids. IEP Parent Partners are available to provide support to parents through the IEP process, answer questions, and attend meetings with parents in the Gilbert Public Schools.
Gifted Education Parent Council
The GEPC was formed in 2015 to mirror the GPS Special Education Parent Council.
The council facilitates a collaborative effort toward the eventual fulfillment of the GPS gifted vision statement to be a “premier provider of services to Pre-K through Grade 12 students identified as gifted or twice-exceptional, using research-based instruction to address the needs of the whole child.”
Gifted Education Parent Council Purpose
The purpose of the Gifted Education Parent Council is to act as a liaison from district to campus and from campus to district.
The expected outcomes are:
- Provide positive support and resources for other parents with gifted, including twice exceptional (2e), students.
- Develop collaborative partnerships with school staff and administrators at the district and campus level.
Members of the Gifted Education Parent Council shall act as a liaison from the district to their campus by:
- Sharing information about educational programs, procedures, and resources from the district with other parents of gifted, including 2e, students;
- Utilizing various ways to communicate: campus newsletter, small group meetings, PTA/PTO meetings, individual parent contact, etc.;
- Being a resource to campus staff and principal(s) for parents needing assistance with the gifted, including 2e, process;
- Partnering with school staff in identifying and coordination of appropriate parent training; and
- Modeling positive and collaborative relationships with campus staff and principal.
Members of the Gifted Education Parent Council shall act as a liaison from the campus to the district by:
- Sharing information reflecting campus gifted, including 2e, programs and services;
- Providing input addressing the needs of gifted, including 2e, programs and services;
- Collaborating and participating in the identification of parent and staff training needs; and
- Collaborating with district gifted, including 2e, staff in ongoing review and development of district programs and services for gifted, including 2e, students.
Members of the GEPC are encouraged to form a positive and collaborative relationship with their principal so that the genuine needs of gifted students, their families, and their teachers can be identified and addressed. The foundational principle of gifted education is to identify and support a student’s strengths, while also recognizing and supporting the student’s deficits. This principle isn’t just for gifted education, rather all students would benefit from having such a principle guide their educational growth.
Mission Statement
We are parents and educators supporting the GPS Gifted Education mission statement by addressing the needs of gifted students of all ages and their families.
We do this through:
- Empowering guardians through education by providing opportunities to:
- Learn how a child’s giftedness impacts his or her development.
- Learn how to address the social, emotional, academic, physical, and kinesthetic needs of gifted and twice-exceptional students.
- Learn how to advocate for their student(s) through respectful and collaborative bridge building.
- Helping gifted students connect to peers through activities and service to others.
- Advocating for gifted students through:
- Effective communication with families and the district.
- Publicizing legislative actions that impact gifted students.
Together we can ensure that every GPS gifted student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
GEPC Parent Resources
Parent Support Organization
Parent Support Organizations cannot operate on the campus without School Administration and District annual approval.
The general liability insurance coverage begins once the Governing Board has approved your application, which is in effect for one year. Applications shall be received by the District office no later than October 1, or alternatively 60 days in advance of their sport/activity season.
Organization Application Requirements
A complete application will include the following:
Informal & Formal Organizations
- Current Operating By-laws
- Most Recent Treasurer’s Financial Report
- Annual Budget
- Most Recent Bank Statement
- Proof of Financial Training Attendance by at Least One Officer (It is strongly recommended that two officers attend)
New Formal Organizations
- All of the above requirements
- Articles of Incorporation
- IRS 501(c)3 Determination Letter
Please follow the instructions at the top of your application to submit your completed application with documentation.
District PSO Training Dates
Please visit the VNET website for up-to-date information on training dates.
Please Note: The Financial Training minimum requirement for Governing Board approval is the attendance of at least one officer, but the Parent Support Organizations are encouraged to have two officers attend.
Parent Support Organization Questions?
Michelle Wine
DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Parent Organizations Documents
Parent Volunteers
Gilbert Public Schools appreciates your interest in becoming a volunteer at our schools. Our parent volunteers are an invaluable resource for our campuses.
Field Trip Chaperone Volunteers - If you are not a current Gilbert Public Schools employee or the parent/legal guardian of a student participating in a field trip, you are required to obtain a Level One IVP fingerprint clearance prior to participating as a field trip chaperone. This process can take about a month, so please ensure you submit your volunteer application with this in mind. Please complete the Volunteer position application by selecting the application button below. Please indicate the campus of the student field trip in which you wish to participate so that the campus can follow up on your application. You will need to provide two personal references. Once your GPS volunteer application has been processed, you will be contacted by someone from the district’s Office of Talent Management Department with information regarding an appointment to apply for your fingerprint clearance card. There will be no cost to you for your appointment to obtain your IVP fingerprint clearance.
Classroom Parent/Guardian Volunteers - If you are an occasional parent/legal guardian classroom or field trip volunteer, fingerprint clearance is not required. If you regularly volunteer in the classroom and work with students, you are required to obtain a Level One IVP fingerprint clearance. This process can take about a month, so please ensure you submit your volunteer application with this in mind. Please complete the Volunteer position application by selecting the application button below. Please indicate the campus at which you wish to volunteer so that the campus can follow up on your application. You will need to provide two personal references. Once your GPS volunteer application has been processed, you will be contacted by someone from the district’s Office of Talent Management Department with information regarding an appointment to apply for your fingerprint clearance card. There will be no cost to you for your appointment to obtain your IVP fingerprint clearance.
Submit an application for the District Wide volunteer position.