Welcome to the SSEPAC Site
Frequently Asked Questions
This page is currently under construction with additions to the questions below. Please check back often.
Q. Does my child need Special Education?
A.
Review the First Steps
Q. What is the Massachusetts Mental Health Parity Law?
A.
Mental Health Parity
Q. I think my child has a learning disability. What should I look for in a doctor for testing?
A.
Neurophysch guide
IEP/504 RELATED QUESTIONS
Q. Is my child eligible for tutoring?
A. According to the Massachusetts Special Education Regulations, your child is eligible for tutoring provided by the School District at their expense if:
a physican provides a written order stating that your child will be absent from school (due to medical reasons) during any school year for at least 14 school days (no requirement stated that this must be consecutive days).
Your child may:
be in a hospital;
be required to remain at home (due to medical reasons);
have a combination of a hospital stay and remaining at home(due to medical reasons).
Your school principal is responsible for arranging the tutoring either in the home or at the hospital and enough tutoring must be provided in order to allow the student to continue the educational program.
This tutoring is NOT considered special education unless your child already has an IEP and the tutoring includes the services provided in the IEP.
Q. So, if my child DOES OR DOES NOT have an IEP or 504?
BUT will be hospitalized
OR must stay home (due to medical reasons)
OR a combination of hospitalized and remain at home (due to medical reasons)
AND I provide a doctor's note stating my child will be out of school for at least 14 school days
THEN my child is eligible for school provided tutoring?
A. YES
The following is copied from State Regulations.
The Massachusetts State Special Education Regulations
603 CMR 28.03 (3) Responsibilities of the School Principal state this as follows:
(c) Educational services in home or hospital. Upon receipt of a physician's written order verifying that any student enrolled in a public school or placed by the public school in a private setting must remain at home or in a hospital on a day or overnight basis, or any combination of both, for medical reasons and for a period of not less than fourteen school days in any school year, the principal shall arrange for provision of educational services in the home or hospital. Such services shall be provided with sufficient frequency to allow the student to continue his or her educational program, as long as such services do not interfere with the medical needs of the student. The principal shall coordinate such services with the Administrator of Special Education for eligible students. Such educational services shall not be considered special education unless the student has been determined eligible for such services, and the services include services on the student's IEP.
Q. What is "effective progress"?
A. This question is answered by both Federal and State government definitions. It is not just passing grades.
Check this pdf to help understand just what "effective progress" means. Effective Progress
Q. What are the transportation requirements and options?
A. transportation
Q. What about IEP issues of discipline as it intersects with physical restraint?
A.Wrightslaw Newsletter on IEP discipline and physical restraint.
TEAM MEETINGS
Q. TEAM Meeting Notice?
A. A TEAM Meeting should be scheduled at the convenience of the parent/legal guardian and school personnel. If it is not a convenient time for you as the parent/legal guardian you can ask for a rescheduled date.
The parent should email the team chair and request that the full team be present otherwise the meeting should be rescheduled so everyone can attend.
Q. TEAM Meeting Attendance, Who should be present?
A. The full team should be present at an annual review--that includes regular, sped teachers, all service providers, the principal of the school, and someone from the district who is knowledgeable about programs.
A teacher from the next grade would be nice but is not required. However, if there is a transition to middle or high school, then a representative from that school should be present to answer questions about the programs and services.
The parent should email the team chair and request that the full team be present otherwise the meeting should be rescheduled so everyone can attend.
Under IDEA, a full team need not always be present at a meeting, However, you must be asked and then provide in writing your permission to excuse a certain team member because their input is not critical to the agenda. Any team member who does not attend should provide a written report to you--prior to the team meeting--so that you have input for consideration (such as for progress or developing new benchmarks, etc.).
Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) Guidance for Implementing IDEA 2004 Team Meetings
TRANSITIONS
Q. I need information on Transistions - where can I find it?
A. We have started a new page for teens and transistions. You will find links for Wrightslaw Self Advocacy and information and links on learning to drive. Click here to check out the information.
Q. What browser should I use to view this site?
A. This site is best viewed with Firefox version 3.0.13 or higher or Internet Explorer version 6, 7 or 8. Javascript needs to be enabled to correctly view the menus and some of the pages (such as Officers and Liaisons and the Contact Us page).
