Hillsboro families of students with disabilities can weigh in on how Oregon measures progress for those students at a free event Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The Special Needs Family Engagement Night runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Northwest Regional ESD building, 5825 NE Ray Circle in Hillsboro. Staff from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will lead the session, according to the district's announcement.

The evening covers three areas tied to the state performance plan required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): fourth-grade literacy, high school graduation and the transition from high school to adult life. The federal law requires states to set measurable goals for students with disabilities and report progress to the U.S. Department of Education.

ODE is collecting family input to help set new statewide targets. An event flyer from Northwest Regional ESD said feedback gathered at the session will help shape those goals.

The Hillsboro stop is part of a statewide tour. A similar session is scheduled for Nov. 3 at High Desert ESD in Redmond.

Northwest Regional ESD, led by Superintendent Dan Goldman, has a formal partnership with the Hillsboro School District. The HSD board approved the regional agency's local service plan for 2026-2027 by a 6-0 vote on Feb. 24, according to board records. The district enrolled 18,318 students as of Oct. 1, 2025.

The district's own Special Education Advisory Committee held its first meeting of the school year on Thursday, Sept. 3, via Zoom, covering IEPs and 504 plans. The Sept. 22 event offers a separate chance for families to engage with state-level staff on broader policy goals.

Special education funding remains a pressure point for the district. On its budget page, the district said efforts to raise the state's 11% special education spending cap and secure full reimbursements for high-cost disabilities fell short during the 2025 Oregon legislative session.

Snacks will be available at the Sept. 22 event. Children and youth are welcome, but childcare will not be provided.

RSVP is optional. Families can find the registration link on the event flyer or email ODE at [email protected] for more information.