Community Advisory Committee
2025-2026 COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meetings & Parent Training Schedule
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August 6, 2025
Parent Training Only: 12:00 - 1:00
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Parent Training Topic:
A Discussion: What is SELPA? What is CAC? And Hot Topics
Presented By:
SELPA Executive Director, MaryAnn Frates and CCSELPA CAC Chairperson, Velma Wilson
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September 17, 2025
Meeting: 5:00 - 5:30 pm
Training: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
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Parent Training Topic:
Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity
Presented By:
SELPA Program Specialist, Soledad Springfield
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October 29, 2025
Parent Training Only: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
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Parent Training Topic:
How to Create a Language-Rich Environment in the Home and the Use of Low Technology
Presented By:
SELPA AT/AAC Specialists, April Clifton, and Mollie Mindel
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November 5, 2025
Meeting: 5:00 - 5:30 pm
Training: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
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Parent Training Topic:
An Overview on Independent Education Evaluations (IEE's), Parent Rights, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Presented By:
SELPA Executive Director, MaryAnn Frates and Brentwood Union School District's Director of Special Education, Justine Melendez
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January 21, 2026
Meeting: 5:00 - 5:30 pm
Training: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
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Parent Training Topic:
From the First Steps to Final Goodbyes: A Holistic Look at Special Education Transitions
Presented By:
Martinez Unified School Districts Director of Special Education, Matt Jensen and Acalanes Union High School Districts Director of Special Education and Auxiliary Services, Leigh Gregory
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March 4, 2026
CAC Awards: 5:00 - 6:00 pm
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CAC Awards
No Parent Training
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May 6, 2026
Meeting: 5:00 - 6:00 pm
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CAC End of Year Meeting
No parent training
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The Contra Costa SELPA can provide reasonable accommodations for persons with special needs or translation planning to attend CAC meetings.
Please contact our office at least a week before the meeting at [email protected].
El área del plan local de educación especial de Contra Costa puede proporcionar adaptaciones razonables para personas con necesidades especiales o planificación de traducción para asistir a las reuniones del CAC.
Comuníquese con nuestra oficina al menos una semana antes de la reunión al [email protected].
These events are open to all parents and staff from Contra Costa SELPA member districts and others who wish to participate.
Please contact our office if you have any questions at 925.827.0949 x10.
In the Contra Costa SELPA we believe...
- In child focused decision-making
- In supporting the educational needs of all children
- In being supportive of parents
- That parents are essential in the decision-making process
Therefore, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is an integral component of the SELPA structure.
Community Advisory Committee Mission Statement
The mission of the Contra Costa SELPA Community Advisory Committee is to collaborate with the local SELPA in an effort to facilitate parent education, increase understanding of issues within special education and advocate to elected officials, the governance committee and individual districts for students with diverse abilities in order for these students to receive the specialized support necessary to reach their potential socially, emotionally and academically.
The Purpose of the Community Advisory Committee
The CAC serves as an advisory body to the Governance Council and the Contra Costa SELPA Director, regarding the development and review of the Local Plan as well as any policy additions or revisions. Additional duties include assisting in parent education and in recruiting parents and other volunteers to support activities on behalf of individuals with exceptional needs. District representative members also have the responsibility of forwarding pertinent information from the CAC to their local boards and to assist in parent awareness of the importance of school attendance.
Membership
All meetings are open to parents of children with and without disabilities, educators, agency representatives and other community members. Voting members are appointed and approved by the school board of each district. The majority of voting membership must be comprised of parents of children with disabilities enrolled in public and private schools within the Contra Costa SELPA. We welcome everyone concerned with the education of children with special needs to attend.
| CAC Meeting Documents |
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022