March 2026

Helping Families and Transition-Age Youth Navigate Their Future

Planning for life after high school is an important step for students with disabilities. It is also a time when families often have many questions. School professionals play an important role in helping students and families understand the transition process and plan for the future.

South Dakota Parent Connection has created a new 5-session learning series called Helping Families and Transition-Age Youth Navigate Their Future. This series is designed for school professionals who support students as they prepare for adulthood.

In this series, participants will learn about key parts of transition planning and how to help families better understand the process. The sessions explain important topics in clear, practical ways that can be used when working with students and families.

Topics in the series include:

• What transition planning is and why it matters
• What is included in an IEP Transition Plan
• How transition assessments help identify a student’s strengths and interests
• What transition services and activities help prepare students for adult life
• How to support students in building self-advocacy and self-determination

These sessions help professionals build confidence in explaining the transition process and guiding families as students move toward education, employment, and independent living after high school.

For the greatest benefit, we encourage school professionals to take the course with others from their school or district. Learning together can help teams build a shared understanding and strengthen how they support students and families.

Participants who successfully complete the training will earn 1 Continuing Education Contact Hour.

School professionals who work in transition planning are key partners in helping students and families prepare for the future. This series is designed to support that important work.

Your Voice Matters: Take the SD Parent Involvement Survey

If your child receives special education services, you have an important opportunity to share your experience with your child’s school.

Each year, the South Dakota Parent Involvement Survey is sent to families of children who receive special education and related services. This survey is a chance for parents and caregivers to share their thoughts about how their local school district supports students with disabilities.

The survey is anonymous, which means your name is not connected to your answers. Your feedback helps schools and the South Dakota Department of Education understand what is working well and where improvements may be needed.

When families share their experiences, it helps schools:

• Improve special education services
• Better support students with disabilities
• Strengthen partnerships with families

You can complete the Parent Involvement Survey online by using the direct survey link. The survey only takes a few minutes to finish, and your responses help schools better understand how they can support students with disabilities and their families. Please remember that all surveys must be completed by May 31, 2026.

By sharing your thoughts, you help improve services for students with disabilities across South Dakota.

Reading Matters. All Year Long

The first week of March was Read Across America Week, a time when schools across the country celebrate the joy and importance of reading. Many classrooms held special activities, guest readers, and fun events to encourage children to read.

If you missed the celebration at your child’s school, it’s never too late to focus on reading at home.

South Dakota Parent Connection has several helpful resources for families. These resources can help you understand how children learn to read, what to do if you have concerns about your child’s reading, and what questions to ask if your child has been diagnosed with Dyslexia or may need extra support at school. You will also find simple activities you can do at home to help your child build reading skills.

Summer is also right around the corner. During the summer, some children can lose reading skills if they do not practice. This is often called the “summer slide.” The good news is that just a little reading each day can help keep skills strong.

The activities shared in the Read to Succeed webinar are great ways to make reading part of your family’s summer routine. Reading together, visiting the library, or talking about stories are all simple ways to help your child grow as a reader.

A few minutes of reading each day can make a big difference. 

• "Understanding Reading and Reading Challenges" (brief)
• "Understanding Reading and Reading Challenges" (video)
• "Understanding How Children Learn to Read"
• "My Child Has Dyslexia. What Now?

Upcoming Events

Here are some learning opportunities offered by South Dakota Parent Connection or in partnership with other organizations that support South Dakota families. A complete list of events can be found on our website at www.sdparent.org or on our Facebook page.

March 17, 2026: Families Together Virtual Support Group: South Dakota Parent Connection is offering this virtual statewide support group for parents and guardians of children, youth, and young adults with disabilities. This group is a safe and welcoming place to learn, share, and connect with other families who understand your journey. Registration is required.

April 9-10, 2026: South Dakota Early Childhood Education Conference: This statewide event for teachers, childcare providers, and early childhood professionals who work with young children. This conference offers learning sessions, expert speakers, and hands-on workshops focused on early learning, behavior support, inclusion, and family partnerships. It is a great opportunity to build new skills, connect with others, and find practical tools you can use right away in your program or classroom. South Dakota Parent Connection staff will have an informational booth available for the attendees to learn more about our services.

This e-publication was developed under grants from the U.S. Department of Education Project Grant H328M2000666 and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant H328M140021, Family to Family Health Information Center, $96,750; and approximately 5% financed with non-governmental resources. The contents should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by U.S. Department of Education, HRSA, HHS, or the Federal Government.