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TN STEP urges more support for parent training and special-education navigation
Summary
TN STEP representatives told the Education Committee that the federally designated parent training center (under IDEA) reaches families statewide, reported increasing demand for one-on-one services, and asked legislators to consider partnerships and funding to expand parent training and information services.
TN STEP, Tennessee's federally designated parent training and information center under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), briefed the committee on its services and statewide reach and asked legislators to consider continuing partnerships and funding. Karen Harrison, TN STEP executive director, and colleagues described decades of work helping parents understand special-education rights and navigate Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.
Presenters said demand for one-on-one assistance has grown. Bernadette Gray, a parent and TN STEP staffer, said the organization touched families in 93 of Tennessee's 95 counties and reported "almost 500,000 opportunities" where the organization has provided parents with information. Stephanie Willis, deputy director at TN STEP, summarized the center's role: helping parents understand IDEA, participate in planning meetings, and reduce conflict by making teams more knowledgeable.
TN STEP leaders and partner advocates emphasized that parents often face technical language and systems they do not understand and that training and information can improve outcomes for students with disabilities. The presenters asked lawmakers to support partnerships and possible funding expansions so TN STEP can continue family outreach and the increasing one-on-one supports that families request.
Committee members thanked the organization and asked follow-up questions about service trends since the pandemic, Medicaid/TennCare funding interactions with school services, and whether cuts to adult services could have downstream effects on K–12 supports; presenters said they would follow up with data where available.
Next steps: TN STEP offered to meet individually with legislators to describe program outcomes and funding needs and to provide additional data on referrals, county coverage, and service demand.
