Special Education
April 19, 2020
Dear Special Education Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you all safe and healthy! This unexpected shift to virtual learning for our students, families, teachers, special education coordinators, and administrators continues to evolve. Everyone is adapting to new technologies, creating home school environments, and learning what works best for each student. Please continue with the strong level of communication between home and school as this is the best way to ensure each and every student is able to access and navigate the curriculum effectively.
All special education teachers and service providers continue working with teachers to create weekly academic plans and activities with modifications based on the IEP. This Tuesday, your Special Education teacher will be sending home a Home Learning Plan (HLP). The purpose of this plan is to document how collaboration, services, and supports have been provided during the school closure. This HLP does not amend or replace your IEP. Upon our return to school your student’s IEP will be fully implemented.
On Friday, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shared a family letter and a family resource toolbox both of which are attached herein. They can also be accessed through our home learning website. We will continue to update you on any additional guidance from DESE.
Please reach out to me or anyone on your child’s team with any questions, concerns, or if you require support in any way.
Be well,
Keith Guyette
Director of Student Services
April 4, 2020
Dear Special Education Parents and Guardians:
I hope this message finds everyone safe and healthy! Our home learning plans for special education students continue to evolve. Special education staff across the district are developing strategies designed to maintain consistent communication with families to support our students. This building closure will create challenges for all students, and especially those that require additional support to learn successfully.
We are working closely with families to ensure our students are able to maintain skills in every area of need. Our special education teachers and service providers have already reached out to students and families, and they have begun providing support and working on goals. Services provided at home via video or over the telephone will not replicate the service provided through direct intervention by a team of specialists over a full day of school. However, we will use targeted strategies to support student goals and learning needs. We will work on maintaining and developing these critical skill areas along with providing the support needed to access any new concepts or content that may be presented.
For the past three weeks, we have been adjusting to this time apart from one another. We are working hard to reinvent how we do business and to develop creative ways to support all of our students with individual learning needs. Tomorrow evening, each principal will be sending a message to families with more focused information about special education strategies and communication plans in their school, and we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teachers and service providers with any questions that you may have.
We will keep you updated on any additional guidance we receive from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or the US Department of Education. The most recent advisories from both agencies are attached to this message.
We are here to support you in any way possible. Please reach out to me or anyone on your child’s team if you have any questions or concerns.
Please stay safe and healthy!
Keith Guyette
Director of Student Services
March 29, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds everyone safe and healthy!
As we begin to settle into our new (temporary) reality, I wanted to take a moment to provide some updates on special education services. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been working in conjunction with Special Education Directors across the state to begin answering questions about what this school closure means for our special education students. Guidance from the federal and state level is evolving daily, and we are evaluating all of our resources and opportunities to serve our students.
In an effort to meet the needs of all of our students, and to keep them connected with their teachers, many alternative learning and enrichment opportunities are being provided. The special education team has put together suggested resources for students and families to support students’ skills during this time apart. We continuously search for different and better ways to engage and support students, and as information unfolds, this process will evolve. Teachers, service providers, and administrators are also available for support and check-ins during this closure. Please reach out to any of us via email with any questions.
Our related service providers; Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Physical Therapist, Counselors and our Board Certified Behavior Analyst will also be providing support and learning opportunities to students and families. We are currently looking at all of the options available to us to provide these services in partnership with parents and guardians.
We will begin to schedule and reschedule IEP annual reviews and 504 meetings beginning next week. These meetings will be held virtually with parent consent. IEP timelines and assessments are currently paused. The timeline will begin again when we return to school.
As we continue to adjust to this new reality, I will keep you informed of any changes. We understand that there are many unanswered questions right now, but we are seeking solutions and we will be as creative as possible. As the father of 6 children, I understand what you are experiencing. Making this a time our children will learn from, enjoy, and remember forever in a positive way, is a challenging endeavor, but worthwhile. I look forward to hearing about your experiences.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please stay safe!
Keith Guyette
Director of Student Services