What is a Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)?

A Special Education Parent Advisory Group, or SEPAG, is a state-mandated, district-level, parent-driven group that provides input to the local school district on system-level challenges in special education and related services.

Each district board of education shall ensure that a particular education parent advisory group is in place in the district to provide input to the district on issues concerning students with disabilities (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.2(h))

To be eligible for state aid, New Jersey regulations require that This legal requirement for a SEPAG be brief and open-ended, allowing parents and school district leaders to create and run an advisory group that meets local needs. SEPAG requirements open the door to collaboration that can make a difference. A SEPAG should be structured to benefit all students with disabilities, not just a single group or a single issue. The more inclusive a SEPAG is, the more opportunities there are to achieve positive outcomes.