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Oct 7, 2025 | Events

Aloha All,

Parents for Public Schools Hawaii is inviting you to a FREE Family Luncheon and talk story for success for all children!

WHEN: Saturday October 11, 2025

TIME: 1:00 – 2:30 pm

Location: HALE A‘O BUILDING

Windward Community College
45-720 Kea’ahala Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744
RSVP by October 8 to secure lunch and childcare:
Anyone is welcome to come without RSVPing, but lunch may not be guaranteed.

     PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

  • “Talk Story: The Road to Student Success & Building Grit”

    Dr. Barbara Hong is an international advocate and educator with over 25 years of experience in transforming schools and improving student outcomes, particularly for marginalized learners, low-income, students with disabilities, and non-traditional groups.

  • “Success for all our Students” panel discussion

    • Dr. Barbara Hong, Dean for Postsecondary Transition Programs in Massachusetts

    • Susan Rocco, Co-coordinator Special Parent Information Network (SPIN)

    • Debbie Kobayakawa, Chair Ohana Task Force for SOHI, HI State Council on Developmental Disabilities

    • Gordon Miyamoto, Educational Specialist for Hawaii Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports, Student Services Branch, HIDOE

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (Department), Monitoring and Compliance Branch, is hosting a one-day training for parents of students with disabilities whose children are currently receiving special education services through the Department or suspect that their children may have an educational disability. Parent training information centers that support parents of students with disabilities, as well as educational advocates, may attend. This training is not for licensed attorneys who appear before the IDEA hearing officers of the Office of Dispute Resolution. The training, led by Deusdedi Merced, Esq. of Special Education Solutions, LLC, a nationally recognized expert in special education law, is designed to strengthen understanding and support effective implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 60.

Date: Monday, October 13, 2025

Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Location: Windward Community College, Hale ʻĀkoakoa Atrium, Room 101

Virtual Option Available: Participants may attend via Zoom.

Registration:  Click here to register, or see the flyer for a QR code and clickable link

Questions? Contact the Monitoring and Compliance Branch at (808) 307-3600.

Reimbursement for Neighbor Island Travel

If you are travelling from a neighbor island, the Monitoring and Compliance Branch will reimburse for airfare and ground transportation up to $300. You must attend the whole day training from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. to be eligible for reimbursement.
To request reimbursement from the Monitoring and Compliance Branch, please complete the Supplier Information section on the Reimbursement Form with a copy of your Driver’s License, boarding passes, and transportation receipt(s) and submit it to Wendy Smith at [email protected]. The School/Office Information and Administrator’s Authorization sections have been completed by the Monitoring and Compliance Branch. Please do not change these sections.

Deadline to submit your reimbursement request is Friday, October 24, 2025.
Should you have any questions, please contact Wendy Smith and Aleena Ashton at

(808) 307-3600.

Please join LDAH – Leadership in Disabilities and Achievement Hawaii – Building Leaders in Parents creates a community of voices.  Be part of the solution for your child receiving specially designed instruction under IDEA.

Our Guest Presenter Dr. Tierney Barcarse, Hawaii Department of Education, Special Education District Education Specialist, will be presenting on the following topics:

  • October 15   Goals and Objectives: Learn How Goals and Objectives are derived from the Eligibility Determination, calculating appropriate goals, data collection/reporting, and how to communicate/ask questions about measurable goals.
  • October 22   What is specially designed instruction(SDI), why is it important, how is it calculated in the IEP, and how to communicate with the Team about SDI.

We highly recommend bringing your spirit of learning and engagement to our Learning Labs.

Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00pm

Location: Zoom Platform

To register, you can do one of the following:

With gratitude,

 

[ldahawaii.org] Leilani Kailiawa

Parent Consultant