Frequently Asked Questions About SEPAC
 
 
What is SEPAC? – The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) is a parent committee required by the New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:14-1.2(h):
 
Each Board of Education shall ensure that a special education parent advisory group is in place in the district to provide input to the district on issues concerning students with disabilities.
 
The committee consists of twenty-one parents, district administrators, a board of education member, teachers and child study team members. Of the parents, one parent from each school is appointed by the principal and one parent is appointed by the school’s PTA/HSA, which totals eighteen parents. Two out of district parents are chosen, one by the PTA/HSA and one by the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services. Finally, one parent of a student in the PRIDE program is chosen by the PTA/HSA.
 
What is the difference of SEPAC and PPEC (Parents and Professionals for Exceptional Children)? – The SEPAC committee meets directly with district personnel to provide information to the district that is of a systemic and general nature. One or two members directly report to the Board of Education during a meeting in the spring. Efforts to improve the delivery of special education services may be discussed at the meeting, but it is not a required purpose of the committee. SEPAC members are also educated with information each meeting that helps them to understand the special education process, so that they can point other parents in the right direction when they have questions. Topics include parental rights, socialization skills for students, and sensitivity of staff and other students to the challenges that students with disabilities face daily.
 
PPEC provides information to parents to help them navigate the landscape in special education. They bring speakers to their meetings that address how to advocate for special education rights for children. There is no direct relationship between PPEC and the Livingston Board of Education, although information about PPEC can be found on the Livingston Public Schools website.
 
How can you access your SEPAC representative? – Each SEPAC representative is posted on Livingston Public Schools website. Under Parent Resources on the front page, click on SEPAC, then click on Representative Contact Information on the left hand side of the page. The representatives’ email addresses are available on this page. You may also get this information from the front office of each school, or in the case of out-of-district placement, the information can be received from the Office of Student Services at 973-535-8000 ext. 8032.
 
Why would you contact your SEPAC representative? – If you have a concern with the delivery of services by Livingston Public Schools that is of a systemic or general nature, you should contact your SEPAC representative. If you have a particular concern that would only affect your child, please contact the child study team at your school or the principal of your school.