It is the responsibility of Norwell Public Schools to identify any child who is a resident of Norwell who may have a disability, regardless of the severity of the disability. Further it is the responsibility of Norwell Public Schools to evaluate these students to determine if any of these students are eligible for special education or related services under IDEA 2004 (Individual with Disabilities Education Act) or the Massachusetts Special Education Regulations.
Norwell Public Schools is committed to locating children before their third birthday in order to provide early intervention services to three and four year olds. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s development and would like to have him/her screened, you may call for an appointment at (781) 659-8800. If you or your pediatrician believes your child should be evaluated to determine eligibility for special education services, please either request verbally by calling the Office of Special Education at 781-659-8800 or by making the request in writing (include your child’s date of birth, name, address and telephone number and a brief description of your concerns) and send it to:
Suzan A. Theodorou, Administrator of Special Education, Norwell Public Schools, 328 Main St., Norwell MA, 02061.
Special Education Child Search in Rockland, Massachusetts
Wicked Local Rockland has published the following news article online:
Rockland parents or people in a care giving or professional position of a Rockland child ages 3 through 21 that suspect the child has a disability and may require special education should call the Office of Pupil Personnel Services at 781-878-1380 for assistance.
Rockland Public Schools offers special education programs at the preschool level and for children enrolled in kindergarten through high school.
Special Education “Basic Rights Workshop” in Wilmington
Wicked Local Wilmington has posted the following online:
Wilmington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites parents, guardians and other interested parties to attend a workshop entitled “Basic Rights Workshop” on Thursday, Oct. 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Wilmington High School Library, 159 Church St., in Wilmington.Presented by a representative from the Federation for Children Special Needs, this workshop provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Massachusetts Special Education Law and No Child Left Behind (NCLB). It is designed to help parents learn how to be effective partners with the school, to decide the child’s eligibility for special education, to plan, make decisions and to monitor the educational progress of their child.
If you plan to attend this workshop, it would be helpful, but not necessary, if you send an email to fjobrien@gmail.com, so we will have a sufficient number of handouts available.
For more information about Wilmington SEPAC, go to www.wilmington.k12.ma.us/SEPAC.htm.
Read more: Wilmington basic rights workshop set for Oct. 25 – Wilmington, MA – Wilmington Advocate http://www.wickedlocal.com/wilmington/news/x1826359608/Wilmington-basic-rights-workshop-set-for-Oct-25#ixzz2AJkYmDCh
Special Needs Screening in Duxbury for Children Ages 3 and 4
Wicked Local Duxbury has posted the following regarding special education screenings in Duxbury:
DUXBURY — Friday, Oct. 26, the Duxbury Integrated Preschool will be conducting a special needs screening for children ages 3 and 4. The screening will help to identify students who may require special education services. Children will participate in developmentally appropriate activities designed to screen their speech and language skills, fine and gross motor control and cognitive development. Screening takes place at the Chandler School (use the Ray Coppens Field entrance and park in the designated visitor parking spaces). To schedule a time to have your son or daughter screened, call Christine at 934-7672.Read more: Preschool special needs screening – Duxbury, MA – Wicked Local Duxburyhttp://www.wickedlocal.com/duxbury/news/education/x1890064616/Preschool-special-needs-screening#ixzz2AF8vvwiK
About my law practice: The Law Office of James M. Baron represents students and parents in special education and other school-related legal matters throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Please visit http://www.lawbaron.com, or call 781-209-1166 for more information.
Natick SEPAC to Hold Free Special Education Basic Rights Workshop
The Natick SEPAC will hold a special workshop tonight (10/18/12) at 7:00 PM to inform families about their special education rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Massachusetts special education law, and No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The workshop will be presented by a representative from the Federation for Children with Special Needs. Topics will include how parents can work in partnership with the school district to determine special education eligibility, and how to plan, make decisions regarding education, and monitor progress. The workshop will be held at Natick Town Hall, 13 E Central St, Natick, MA. Contact the Natick SEPAC to RSVP and for more information (naticksepac@gmail.com).
The Law Office of James M. Baron represents students and parents in special education and other school-related legal matters throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Please visit http://www.lawbaron.com, or call 781-209-1166 for more information.
Norwell Public Schools Trying to Identify Students With Disabilities
The following article, published today in Wicked Local Norwell, might be of interest to Norwell residents:
Read more: Norwell: Special education evaluations – Norwell, Massachusetts – Norwell Mariner http://www.wickedlocal.com/norwell/news/x1768343815/Norwell-Special-education-evaluations#ixzz1nJ8wWzLP
The Law Office of James M. Baron represents students and parents in special education and other school-related legal matters. Please visit http://www.lawbaron.com, or call 781-209-1166 for more information.
Special Education Eligibility
For a child to be eligible for special education services, all of the following must be true:
- The child must be between the age ranges specified by federal and state law:
- Massachusetts: Ages 3 – 21, inclusive. 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(1)(A) and 603 C.M.R. 28.02(9).
- New Hampshire: Ages 3 – 20, inclusive. New Hampshire also requires the identification and evaluation of special education students starting at age 2.5, so that an IEP can be in place immediately upon reaching age 3. Ed 1105.
- The child must have a disability (see below for more information);
- The child must not be making effective progress in regular education due to that disability; and
- The child requires specially designed instruction or a related service.
To qualify as a child with a disability for special education purposes, your child’s disability must be categorized according to terms set out under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) or under state law. New Hampshire follows the IDEA categories, which are:
- intellectual disabilities,
- hearing impairments (including deafness),
- speech or language impairments,
- visual impairments (including blindness),
- serious emotional disturbance (referred to in IDEA as “emotional disturbance”),
- orthopedic impairments,
- autism,
- traumatic brain injury,
- other health impairments, or
- specific learning disabilities.
20 U.S.C. 1401(3)(A); 34 CFR 300.8.
New Hampshire also recognizes developmental delays in children ages 3 – 9 as a disability category. 20 U.S.C. 1401(3)(B); 34 C.F.R. 300.8(b); RSA 186-C:2, I-a.
Massachusetts has its own disability category list, which is as follows (603 C.M.R. 28.02(7)):
- autism,
- developmental delay,
- intellectual impairment,
- sensory impairment (including hearing impairment, deafness, visual impairment, and blindness),
- neurological impairment,
- emotional impairment,
- communication impairment,
- physical impairment,
- health impairment, or
- specific learning disabilities.
The Law Office of James M. Baron represents students and parents in special education and other school-related legal matters. Please visit http://www.lawbaron.com, or call 781-209-1166 for more information.
Milton to Undergo Special Education Review
The Patriot Ledger newspaper published the following article today:
Special-education review in Milton set for mid-November
Representatives from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be in local schools during the week of Nov. 15 to review the town’s compliance with special-education laws.
Included will be an examination of selected student records, classroom visits, and interviews with staff members, parents and others.
Federal and state special-education laws ensure that students with disabilities receive educations that prepare them for employment, independent living and possible post-high-school education.
Parents who feel their child is not receiving proper services are encouraged to meet with a state education staff member prior to Nov. 15.
To request an interview, call Paul Aguiar at 781- 338-3781.
SPEDWatch Inc., a statewide nonprofit working to secure the educational rights of all Massachusetts schoolchildren with disabilities, is also offering its services to parents in connection with the state’s review of the Milton school system.
For more information about the organization, go to http://www.spedwatch.org.
Special Education Blog 