Dear Families and Guardians of children supporting via special education.
As we enter these uncharted waters, I wanted to take some time to give you all some information. Special Ed Directors across Massachusetts are working in conjunction with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to address questions related to the needs of children with special needs while school is not in session. This information is unfolding on a daily basis, as DESE interprets the federal and state guidance and provides supports to public schools.
The current focus of supports will include engagement and activities for students of all needs and abilities. My office will be working with district wide special educators and administrators on activities and resources for families. We are all working tirelessly to find ways to support students and recognize that as information unfolds, this process may evolve and change. We also recognize that for our most disabled students, this time of uncertainly poses a lot of questions. I will do my best to provide as much as information as possible as it is available.
Many of you will be hearing, if not already, from your general education teacher about activities for home. Special Education teachers are available to support student access to these activities. You can continue to be in touch with your child’s special education teacher via his /her/they Milton email.
Our office will additionally be offering online resources for ELA and Math. These self guided tools such as LEXIA (Core 5 and PowerUp) and SMYPHONY Math are designed to engage students at their instructional level and are wonderful resources for home. If your child has a LEXIA account, please encourage him or her to resume practice. Your Team Chairperson can give you more information about if these options are appropriate for your student. We ask for your patience as these tools are made available to a larger audience.
Related providers, such as Speech/Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Adjustment Counselors will also be available to provide strategies, supports and activities. Their availablity will be unfolding across this week.
Regarding IEP Timelines: If you have an IEP with a response due to the district, you can return it to my office at Milton High School. 25 Gile Road. If you had a team meeting last week, know that IEP will make its way to you as soon as possible. I can accept digital responses to if you’d like to return it via email scan (smasellI@miltonps.org) or to your Team Chairperson.
If you child has an annual review date scheduled during the school closure, know we are discussing the viability of online or phone meetings. Our online IEP management system, ESTAR, has the capability to send documents encrypted, so we will be able to continue to provide you with IEP related documentation.
If your child is in an out of district special education placement, please reach out to your Team Chairperson with any questions, as these programs operate separate from the public schools.
The Office of Pupil Personnel Services will keep in touch with parents via the principal weekly memo. Going forward, key information from my office will come via that forum in an effort to consolidate information you will receive.
OOD Team Chairs will be in touch with families in private special ed schools. If you have questions, you can reach your principal, Team Chairperson or me at smaselli@miltonps.org
The Milton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Milton SEPAC) is a parent run, nonprofit organization in Milton, Massachusetts dedicated to providing information, support and advocacy to families with children with special needs and/or learning disabilities in the Milton Public Schools.
All are welcome at the SEPAC Monthly Meetings! Mark your calendars. 7pm at Glover Elementary School on the following dates: 10/2/19, 11/6/19, 12/4/19, 1/8/20, 2/5/20,3/4/20, 4/1/20, 5/6/20, 6/3/20
Special Education
