Suggested Websites for Families
Informative Resources and Training
National Parent Technical Assistance Center (NPTAC)
The ALLIANCE National Parent Technical Assistance Center (NPTAC) provides Parent Centers, Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), with innovative technical assistance, up-to-date information, and high quality resources and materials. A major goal of the ALLIANCE National PTAC is to build the capacity of Parent Centers in order to improve results for children with disabilities ages 0 -26 in rural, urban and suburban areas and from underrepresented and underserved populations.
New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP)
The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) seeks to promote and improve parenting education, in order to enhance parenting skills, knowledge, and behavior.
New York State Parent Guide and the New York State Parent Portal
The NYS Parent Guide and the NYS Parent portal provide support and resources for the parents and caregivers of young children.
NYS Child Care, After School, and Home Visiting Programs Locator
The NYS Child Care, After School, and Home Visiting Programs Locator provides listings and locations of child care, after school, and home visiting programs.
Welcome Families of Emergent Multilingual Learners to Prekindergarten in New York State Brochure
This brochure was created to help parents see the value that using their home language has for our EMLs, and to help answer four common questions they might have: “Should we speak English at home?”; “How will my child be assessed?”; “Will my child get confused?”; and “How can I help?” The brochure is available in 11 languages.
The Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages has also created the Parents' Bill of Rights for New York State's English Language Learners and Multilingual Learners & Parent Hotline. This content summarizes critical rights concerning educational access and programming for ELLs and their parents while providing additional resources. Parents and students who have questions or concerns can contact the hotline using the instructions provided in 13 languages.
New York State Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Parent Networks
NYS's school PTAs provide opportunities for parents and families to participate in the education of their children. The sites and links listed below provide resources to regional PTAs and parent networks. The NYS PTAs site also has a page dedicated to early childhood and preschool.
New York City Department of Education PTAs
The NYCDOE PTA site provides information about the requirements and procedures of PTAs in NYC.
Suffolk Region PTA
The Suffolk Region PTA is dedicated to promoting children's health, well-being, and educational success through strong parent, family, and community involvement.
Nassau Region PTA
The Nassau Region PTA provides regional information and outlines the mission of PTAs: "To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; to assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; and to encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation."
Parent Network of Western NY
The Parent Network of Western NY is a community resource for families of individuals with special needs and for professionals who work with these families. Parent Network’s goal is to empower families to successfully advocate for their children with special needs and to see that they receive proper care and education by offering seminars, workshops, conferences, information and referral services and resources. Parent Network is designated as a Technical Assistance Parent Center by NYS Education Department and receives funding from several sources. Parent Network's staff specializes in empowering parents to communicate effectively with professionals and to successfully advocate for their children. Parent Network also works with professionals by providing continuing education opportunities, resources and referral services. All of these services are free of charge for families, professionals and service providers of individuals with disabilities.
Rockland 21C Collaborative for Children and Youth
Rockland 21C is a nonprofit with a board comprised of leaders of Rockland government and businesses, public agencies, school districts, and child-centered organizations that are united in a unique partnership with one priority: children. It is also “home base” for an initiative through which eight Rockland County, NY, school districts partner to support forty schools that host program activities.
Parent to Parent of New York State
Parent to Parent of NYS is a statewide not for profit organization established to support and connect families of individuals with special needs. They offer a parent of a person with a developmental disability or special health care need the opportunity to be connected one-to-one with another parent who knows first-hand about the feelings and realities that come with having a family member with a disability or chronic illness. Through the one-to-one match the experienced support parent provides emotional support to the referral parent and assists them in finding information and resources.
Continuity of Learning Resources
The New York State Education Department and the Office of Early Learning have provided activities and resources for families and educators to use while children are at home during the the COVID-19 pandemic.