Over three million children in the United States experience a disability and almost all of them attend school. Today, laws ensure that children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education.  

Look out: acronyms ahead! You may need a special education glossary like this one from Understood.org, which is a fantastic resource for parents looking to understand the special education system.

Birth to Kindergarten

Some disabilities are apparent from birth, and some come to light in the first years of growth and development. In Multnomah County, the Multnomah Early Childhood Program (MECP) provides early intervention services for children with disabilities between birth and kindergarten.  

If you have a concern about how your child sees, hears, walks, talks, plays, or learns between birth and kindergarten, you can ask for a developmental evaluation. Screen your child’s development using this online tool from the Oregon Screening Project at the University of Oregon. Call 503-261-5535 to get in touch with MECP for early intervention services. They will do several observations and interviews to assess your child.

The results of the MECP evaluation may diagnose your child with a disability and qualify them for early intervention special education services. This could include services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, parent education, and special education preschool. You’ll meet with a team to develop an Individual and Family Support Plan (IFSP) that outlines which services your child and family will receive, how much, when, and where. MECP services are free and are part of public school.

School Age

Children with disabilities in grades K-12 have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 Plans. Both outline what services and accommodations a child needs to be successful at school. 

A child will qualify for an IEP if they have one of 13 disabilities defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IEPs have a more formal, standardized format and process for describing a child’s present levels of development, their annual goals, accommodations and modifications, service levels, and classroom placement.  

A child qualifies for a 504 Plan if they have any disability that interferes with their ability to learn or navigate their school day. There is no standard format, but the plan usually lists the services, accommodations, and supports the school will provide and the names of the people who will provide them.  

Learn more about the differences between an IEP and 504 Plan and what you can expect from each.  

If your child has an IFSP, you and your team will write an IEP or 504 Plan when they go to kindergarten.  

Some disabilities may not become apparent until a child enters school: ADHD or dyslexia, for example. Parents or educators who notice a child struggling in school can request an educational evaluation. That evaluation may lead to a diagnosis and an IEP or 504 plan. Getting an evaluation and effective IEP after starting school may require persistence. 

When an IEP is in place, the child’s entire educational team meets annually to write the IEP for the coming year. As a parent, you are an important part of that team. The IEP includes a section for parent input where you can write about your child’s strengths, interests, and challenges to help the school know your child. Your child is assessed every three years to determine that they still qualify for special education services.

Graduation and beyond

During the IEP meeting of your child’s sophomore year of high school, you’ll begin talking about diploma options and plans for after high school. 

Getting help

You don’t have to navigate this system alone! Families and Communities Together (FACT Oregon) is a statewide group offering broad support for families experiencing disability. They offer help through parent education, connection to community, and a support line connecting you with other parents to help answer questions. The IEP Toolkit and The IEP: What You Need to Know online training are two of their most popular resources.

Special education services can be complicated and confusing, and you might feel you need a second education about special education.  The many resources and support options help you understand and advocate for your child throughout their school life.

This article was written for our Family Newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

We realize it’s only July, but we’re already thinking about going back to school in the fall and how to help you do it on the cheap! Here are some tips we’ve learned over the years:

Reuse and Recycle! 
Before heading to the store, look around your home first to see what office and art supplies you could use for the upcoming school year. And you might not need a new backpack or lunch box, maybe last year’s just needs a good wash!

Borrow or trade school supplies
Ask extended family and friends if they have spare supplies you could borrow or have. Or maybe they are interested in trading extra supplies? Maybe you have a bunch of pencils and your friend has extra notebooks–a swap would be a win-win situation for both of you! This can also work for clothes, if you know folks whose kids are older and outgrown their clothes, or check your community’s Facebook/NextDoor page or neighborhood newsletter for upcoming clothing swaps! Some neighborhoods even have “Buy Nothing” pages, like this one in St. Johns. Here are the Buy Nothing pages in Oregon and Washington.

Buy second-hand!
From backpacks to clothing, you can find real bargains at garage sales and thrift stores. Or check out Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace (or better yet, the Facebook Buy Nothing pages above) online.

Start now!
If you can, spread out your purchases over the summer. You don’t need to make extra trips to the store, just hit up the school supply aisle when you’re already out grocery shopping or running other errands. And be sure to check the front page of the store's circular or sales flier for items that are currently on sale! 

And the flip side of the coin… wait!
There are plenty of great sales to take advantage of during the back-to-school rush, but seasonal items such as fall clothing become cheaper after school starts (and they have to make way for the winter stuff). And fingers crossed, your kids won’t need that winter sweater for a little while!

Follow your list
School supply lists are available now for some schools in Multnomah County. Print the list and bring it with you every time you go shopping. And follow it - no need to get anything fancy that’s not on the list. Here is what we found as of the publishing of this post:

• Centennial: We were unable to find updated supply lists on their website. Trying visiting the district website and clicking on the Schools link to find your school's individual page. Supply lists can often be found under the “Families” or “For Parents and Students” dropdown menus.  Or do a Google search for your school’s name and “supply list.” Be sure you are looking at the list for your school (check the address!) and for the coming school year.
• David Douglas: Information on school supplies for the various schools can be found here.
• Gresham Barlow: “Gresham-Barlow School District will be supplying elementary and middle school students with any necessary school supplies. Families will still need to provide their students with backpacks. Each school will be in contact with families regarding other school-specific details before the start of the school year.” More info here.
• Parkrose: You will need to go into each school’s page to find their supply list. Once at your school’s page, look under the Student’s drop down menu for the supply list (if it has been made available). 
• Portland Public Schools: Some schools provide supplies for free; unfortunately, each school is different. For the most part, find your school and look under the 'Our School' menu. Sometimes supply lists are linked directly from there. You can also try using the search feature (top right of page) and type in your school’s name and the word “supply”. 
• Reynolds: Reynolds is on top of things and has one page with all the supplies needed!
• Riverdale: Select your school and check the website.

And definitely contact your school directly if you need help with getting supplies; they will help!

This article was written for our Family Newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

Now that the kids have been out of school for a few weeks, are you starting to hear those dreaded words: “I’m bored!”?

If you are looking for some free or low-cost educational activities to enrich your child’s summer, read on!

 

Multnomah County Library resources

Babies, kids and teens can all play the summer reading game and earn prizes through August 31. There’s even a reading game for adults! Don’t miss out on our storytimes, interactive performances and arts and crafts programs–you can search for what’s happening at your closest location. 

Older students can try out their design and technology skills at the Rockwood Library Makerspace or go online to Learning Express Library to review academic skills or practice for college placement tests or AP tests.

 

Out and about in Multnomah County

Your family can visit museums and other cultural institutions for free with the My Discovery Pass, available for Multnomah County Library cardholders. The RACC Arts for All program also offers $5 tickets to arts and cultural events for those with an EBT/Oregon Trail card.

Portland Parks and Recreation offers affordable summer camps, including environmental education camps and classes for a variety of age groups. Discounts are available for families with lower incomes. 

The whole family can enjoy the cultural events, including concerts and movies, at Portland Parks and Recreation’s Summer Free for All. In East County, don’t miss the Gresham Arts Festival, which features live music and the work of more than 125 Pacific Northwest artists.
 

 

Online Learning

Check out these online enrichment activities to keep your students busy this summer. 

PBS Kids Summer of Adventure 
The printable summer checklist and activity book will encourage kids to try something new. The site includes lots of additional activities, too.

Reading Rockets: Start with a Book 
Are your kids obsessed with dinosaurs or cooking or superheroes? Find reading lists, activity ideas and online resources on 24 popular topics at this site.

Free Learning Resources 
Includes ebooks, videos and fun educational activities for grades K-12

Math Learning Center 
Features online and printable games to help K-5 students practice their math skills

Khan Academy 
Video-based lessons and lesson practice for K-12 students

HippoCampus 
A collection of resources on school subjects for middle-school and high-school students

Summer Goal Setting Program 
Created by The Shadow Project, this free program helps students with learning differences to build positive behaviors, motivation and confidence. Space is limited.

Summer Success Kit for Kids with ADHD
Tips for providing structure and support during the summer 

SMART Reading Resources
Find book scavenger hunts, reading challenges and adventure maps for kids to complete this summer.

This article was written for our Family newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

Are you looking for a safe space for your child to learn and grow while you are away? Finding child care can be difficult, not to mention expensive! Families often have many questions. How do I know what to look for? How can I be sure my child will be safe and happy? How will I pay for the rising cost of child care? If you are looking for care for your child, here are some places to start:

FINDING THE RIGHT CHILD CARE: Findchildcareoregon.org is a 211 service that supports parents in finding child care that meets their needs. Families can search for programs by location, ages served, primary language of instruction, and many other factors. The site includes a helpful question guide to help you decide what to ask your potential child care provider before enrolling your child.

ENSURING YOUR CHILD’S SAFETY: Generally speaking, programs that serve more than three children, operate more than four hours per day and are not operated by a school district or government agency are required to have a child care license. Licensed child care programs receive regular visits to ensure programs are following the child care rules. Unlicensed programs can still be a safe and wonderful choice for your family. If your preferred program is not required to be licensed, consider asking what practices and policies are used by the program to maintain child safety. You can check that a program is licensed and see their license record by looking on the Child Care Safety Portal managed by the Early Learning Division.

MAKING CHILD CARE AFFORDABLE: There are several initiatives that support families in finding free or low-cost child care in Multnomah County. Keep reading to see which one might work for your family!

Head Start is a federal early learning program, and one of the most familiar names in early learning. Oregon Pre-Kindergarten (OPK) is the state-funded equivalent of Head Start. Head Start offers comprehensive services to children and their families at no cost. The program has expanded in recent years to provide Early Head Start for children ages 0-3 and offer more full day options for families. Your family may qualify for Head Start if your household income is less than 100% of the federal poverty guidelines, if you are currently experiencing homelessness, or if you are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or Social Security Income (SSI) benefits. You can learn more about Head Start and enroll your child through the Oregon Head Start Association (OHSA) website. 

Preschool Promise is a state-funded early learning program for preschool-aged children. Programs offering Preschool Promise slots may be based in a variety of child care settings, including homes, centers and school districts. Programs serve children at least six hours per day and at least four days per week. Your family may qualify for Preschool Promise if your household income is less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. You can learn about programs that offer Preschool Promise slots in Multnomah County and apply through the Early Learning Multnomah (ELM) website. 

Baby Promise is similar to Preschool Promise but serves infants and toddlers ages 6 weeks to 3 years old. Families must be employed and earn a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Families can learn more and apply through the Child Care Resource and Referral website. 

Preschool for All was voted in by Multnomah County residents in 2020. It is a county-funded preschool program for preschool-aged children. Similar to Preschool Promise, child care settings can be in homes, centers or school districts. Any child who is 3 years old before September 1 is eligible, though children whose families experience barriers accessing preschool (BIPOC, children whose first language is not English, children with developmental delays and/or disabilities, etc.) are prioritized. The application for the 2023-2024 program year is available as of May 3, 2023. Families have until May 31 to apply. Families do not receive priority for applying earlier, so caregivers should take the time they need to review available preschool options.

Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) is a child care subsidy program currently offered through the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). This means families may pay part of the child care cost, called a copay. Families must need child care to work or attend school in order to qualify for ERDC, and they must make no more than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines at the time they apply. Many child care providers accept ERDC. ERDC is also unique in that family, friends and neighbors can be approved (after meeting requirements and registering) child care providers for your family and collect ERDC payments. Review the ERDC information page on the Oregon.gov website to learn more and apply!

Lastly, don’t be shy about asking your preferred provider about scholarships, tuition assistance, or other ways to help manage the cost of care. 

This article was written for our Family newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.