Sharing the Commitment is a partnership between the Polk County Exceptional Student Education Department and Family Network on Disabilities (FND) to provide information, training and support to educators, parents, and agencies on services and programs for students with disabilities. Sharing the Commitment sponsors workshops for all persons interested in services for students with disabilities.

Sharing the Commitment was created to:

· Foster increased communication, commitment, and shared responsibilities between the school district, parents, and community agencies to provide quality programs and services to students with disabilities in our schools;

· Provide a forum for parents of students with disabilities to discuss critical issues and concerns, and to provide input for federal grant spending for IDEA Entitlement;

· Serve as a resource for the ESE Director and school site Principals in matters pertaining to ESE programs and services;

· Provide information and training to school-based administrators, staff, and community agencies on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Parent Educator Exceptional Resources (PEERs) will be available to provide parents of students with disabilities with up-to-date information, resources and support. A PEER is a specially trained parent of a child with disabilities in the School District of Polk County. Through personal experiences PEER's have learned that positive teamwork among schools and families if the key to our children's success. A PEER can provide information about 504, IDEA, resources, agencies, departments in the school system, different types of programs, and training opportunities that parents and professionals might enjoy. Also, PEER's can help design trainings or workshops that are suggested by the parents in the community.