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Special Education Parental Advisory Council

Weston SEPAC

WELCOME!

The Weston Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Weston SEPAC) is an all parent volunteer group of that promotes a network for parents of children with disabilities to provide a forum to share information, support, provide resources and discuss important issues.

We provide educational presentations for parents and teachers of special needs and typical students.  We meet with school administration and school committee members to give our input on policies and programs that impact our children.  We promote and raise awareness of children with special needs.  We meet with our state representative to share and discuss information to advocate for children with disabilities.

February/ March 2021

Welcome back to the 20/21 School Year!  The Weston SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) has some upcoming events.

IMPORTANT!    Weston is under a Compliance review!
Please be on the look out for an email from the The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 
Weston is currently under a Tiered Focus Monitoring Compliance review (group B/tier 2 on 2/22) and DESE is seeking input from parents as part of the review. this review used to be called Coordinated Program Review.
Group B Universal Standards address: 
-Licensure and professional development
-Parent/student/community engagement
-Facilities and classroom observations
-Oversight
-Time and learning
-Equal access
 
Every school district is assigned to one of four risk
categories– Weston is a Tier 2
-Tier 1: Meets Requirements-No concern on compliance and performance outcomes.
-Tier 2: Low Risk- No demonstrated risk in areas with close link to student outcomes.
-Tier 3: Moderate Risk-Areas of concern include both compliance and student outcomes.
-Tier 4: High Risk-Areas of concern have profound effect on student outcomes and ongoing compliance.
Those interested in what DESE is monitoring can find information here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/resources/default.html
Parent information: https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/parents/default.html
Any member of the public may request to be interviewed by DESE as part of the review process. Call your DESE district liaison to request an interview. Your liaison can be found at: https://www.doe.mass.edu/prs/specialist.html
 
To see Previous Weston Reviews click HERE:
https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/cpr/reports/2018/0330.docx
https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/cpr/caps/2018/0330.docx
https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/cpr/reports/2015/followup/0330.docx
https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/2012/0330.docx
 
Email to ALL Weston Parents of students that are on a 504 or IEP should have received the following message:
Dear Parent or Guardian,  A review of your district’s special education programs is being conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education during the week of February 24, 2021.  Your input on the Special Education Parent Survey will help determine how well your district is meeting state and federal requirements. Your response is important to us, so please complete the survey by February 12, 2021.  A summary of responses from all parents completing this survey will be used to evaluate the district’s efforts to meet requirements for special education. If you have questions or need assistance in completing this survey, you may contact me at 413-314-6703.  If you prefer a paper copy, or require another link for any additional children, please contact me. Thank you very much for your help in making this program review successful.
Sincerely, Marc Oldenburg TFM Chair, Office of Public School Monitoring

UPCOMING EVENTS!

March 2021

MEETING:  SEPAC Business Meeting –Monday March 8, 2021 7:00pm -Agenda pending

7:00pm  Weston Field School Principal Dr. Dan Green will meet with SEPAC members for an open discussion- Zoom Meeting Link https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88236364865.

 

PRESENTATION: “Demystifying Transition Services”  Tuesday March 9, 2021 9:00am-11:00am-speaker Judy Imperatore M.Ed.- Judy is a national expert in Vocational Assessment and Transition Services –Transitionresponse.com  

Learn about:  1) What is Transition?  2) What are Transition Assessments?  3) What should Transition look like in the IEP?  4) What is the Process 5) Questions 

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 836 5553 4238
Passcode: 032069

 

PREVIOUS EVENTS:

FEBRUARY 2021

COFFEE MEET UP:   Tuesday February 9, 2021 9:00AM -No agenda -All parents or caretakers with kids who are differently abled, who have food allergies or learning challenges are invited to attend for sharing and support!   Come join other parents learn about special education and meet other special education parents to share information and support one anther! 

JANUARY 2021

PRESENTATION: “The Myth of Falling Behind: Parenting and Education during a Pandemic”  Wednesday January 27. 2021 6:00PM -Speaker Robin Einzig from Visible Child -a 90-minute workshop exploring our children’s learning, stress, resilience, and what they need most from all of us during these difficult times.  Sponsored by: WPS Office of District Advancement, the Weston PTO, and the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). For more information about our speaker click here Visible Child

PRESENTATION: “IEP Basic Rights: Evaluation and Eligibility” -Friday January 8, 2021 9:00am –Guest speaker: Tracey Morgan from a Bright Idea  Advocates -Federation for Children with Special Needs 

This presentation is a comprehensive introduction into special education laws and procedures. We will delve into the purpose of the law, referrals, evaluations, and the team meeting process including determining eligibility.  Further discussion will focus on services, placement, and what to do when you receive a proposed IEP. You will also learn what to do if the student is not eligible and parent’s procedural due process rights for resolving disputes.  Handouts ClickHere 

DECEMBER 2020

MEETING:  SEPAC Business Meeting -Tuesday December 15, 2020 7:00pm –Agenda Click here 

7:00pm  Weston High School Principal Paul Peri will meet with SEPAC members for an open discussion –DRAFT minutes pending

NOVEMBER 2020

MEETING:  SEPAC Business Meeting  Agenda -click here –Monday November 23, 2020 9:00AM  Minutes click here

OCTOBER  2020

PRESENTATION:  “Executive Functioning in Remote Learning”  – POSTPONED from Oct 8th to now Wednesday October 28th – 7 pm –  Elise Wulff (MEd, Program Manager at Aspire) will be speaking about how to support your child’s executive functioning during this time of remote and hybrid learning.  Registration is free thanks to Wayland PTO sponsorship.  Weston SEPAC members WELCOME to attend Click Here for Presentation Slides  Stuck Help Handout

PRESENTATION:  “Back to School 2020: Advocating for your Student’s Special Education Rights During Covid-19”  –Wednesday October 14, 2020 at 7:00PM –Co-hosted with Wayland SEPAC- Attorneys Lillian Wong and Allison Boscarine from Wong & Boscarine LLC will present on DESE updates, Special Education Services during Remote or Hybrid, health Safety & Learning at School, Covid Compensatory Claims and Questions.  Click Here for Presentation Slides

SEPTEMBER 2020

MEETING:  SEPAC Business Meeting –Click here for agenda – Wednesday September 30, 2020 at 7:00PM Minutes click here

 

SEPAC SCHEDULE 2020-2021 year

Sept 30, 2020-Business Meeting

October 14, 2020-Back to School 2020:  Advocating Special Education Rights- Wong and Boscarine LLC

October 28, 2020-Business Meeting

November 23, 2020-Business Meeting

December 15, 2020-speaker planning for 2021-Autism awareness- Dyslexia

January 8, 2021 9am -IEP Basic Rights Presentation: speaker Tracey Morgan Advocate for FCSN

January 27, 2021 6pm- Presentation: The Myth of Falling Behind: Parenting and Education during a Pandemic- Robin Einzig from Visible Child

February 9, 2021 7pm-Business Meeting

March 8, 2021- 7PM -Guest Dr. Greene Field School Principal meet with SEPAC members

March 11, 2021 9am-

April 13, 2021 7pm-

May 12, 2021 9am- Board Elections

June    2021- Staff appreciation

SEPAC BOARD 2020-2021

Co-Chairs: Lisa Lappi & Kathy Davidoff
Secretary:  Maija Cirulis-Gooch
Treasurer: Becky Dempsey
Member at Large: Vicky Gifford, Jeannette Velasquez, Lornece Tull, Michelle Galloway

School Committee Liaison:  Rachel Stewart

School & Program Liaisons:
High School: Kathy Davidoff & Lisa Lappi
Middle School: Becky Dempsey, Lornece Tull, Michelle Galloway
Field School: Mija Cirulis-Gooch
Country School: Vicky Gifford
Woodland School: Jeanette Velasquez
Out of District: Kathy Davidoff & Becky Dempsey
METCO: Lornece Tull & Michelle Galloway
Remote Learning Academy-Lornece Tull

CLICK FOR SEPAC BROCHURE

Facebook Feed is not specific to Weston but for events in and around Massachusetts pertaining to children and special education!

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Weston SEPAC

1 day ago

Weston SEPAC
Brookline SEPAC Invites you to learn more about BSEA Mediatioin and Facilitation. All are welcome!Tuesday, Feb 23, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Are you finding yourself at an impasse in IEP meetings? Are you unsure how to find collaborative resolve with the rest of the team? Are you an ETF or Administrator who wants to understand how BSEA mediation and facilitation process works? Have you ever wondered if BSEA mediation or facilitation might help you resolve disagreements? Myrto Flessas, Coordinator of Mediation and Facilitation for the Bureau of Special Education AppealsCommonwealth of Massachusetts and Beth Ross the Mediator that covers Brookline. Myrto and Beth will explain how mediation and facilitation work, and will answer your questions about the process.Join Zoom Meetingus02web.zoom.us/j/84123997632... ... See MoreSee Less

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The Weston Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Weston SEPAC) is an all parent volunteer group of that promotes a network for parents of children with disabilities to provide a forum to share information, support, provide resources and discuss important issues.

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