Workshop March 14 in Palatine for parents with special-needs children

The Special Education Parents Accessing Resources and Knowledge (SPARK) Committee of the Northwest Suburban Council PTA/PTSA will present a free workshop titled "Understanding Intellectual Assessment in the Schools" from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 14, at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School, 1100 N. Smith St. in Palatine.

The presentation will help parents understand the purpose of cognitive/intellectual assessment in the schools; what these types of tests measure; how the tests are used to make decisions about a student's education; the role of standardized testing in the Response to Intervention (RtI) model; and the theory of multiple intelligences and its implication for education.

In an effort to reach as many families as possible, live Spanish translation will be provided during the meeting.

Speaker Howard Atlas has had extensive experience in public education working as a school psychologist and as an administrator. He has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences on such topics as the assessment and intervention of students with ADHD, specific learning disabilities, functional behavior assessment, classroom management, and positive behavior intervention and supports.

SPARK meetings are designed to give parents information to help them parenting children with unique needs. Monthly program dates and topics can be found on the Palatine Township Elementary District 15 website, www.ccsd15.net.