Working to make the best decisions for students

Before students returned for the 2026-27 school year, the departments of Equity and Student Support Services and Special Education collaborated to host “Building Capacity Together: Aligning Practice, Strengthening Teams, and Advancing Equity,” a daylong cross-professional learning experience for coordinators of special education, school psychologists, educational diagnosticians and school social workers. The event focused on strengthening the knowledge, collaboration, and shared practices professionals bring to educational planning and special education decision-making. Through case scenarios and team discussions, participants considered how assumptions can influence interpretation, practiced language for raising questions in uncertain situations, and reflected on the responsibility of everyone to contribute their expertise before a team reaches a conclusion. “Different students may require different decisions,” said Dr. Carmen Waterford, coordinator of equity, “but every student deserves the same rigor, curiosity, participation, and attention to relevant information when important educational decisions are made.”