The next Special Education Leaders Meeting will be held on Friday, September 16th, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Zoom link for this meeting will be sent to Special Education Leaders in a separate email during the week of September 12, 2022.
As a reminder, please ensure that your district contact information for Special Education Administrators in Profiles is up to date. We want to ensure that all email links and invites are being received by the appropriate district staff. You can do this by visiting the District Profiles to check that your name and current email address are listed in your district’s directory. If the directory needs to be updated, please follow up with your district’s Directory Administrator.
2022-2023 Special Education Leaders Meeting Schedule
The full schedule of Special Education Leaders Meetings for SY2022-2023 has just been finalized. Please add these to your calendar, noting the new date for our October meeting, which was recently changed due to a scheduling conflict.
Friday, September 16, 2022 – Noon to 1 p.m.
Friday, October 21, 2022 – Noon to 1 p.m. (Date changed from previously announced schedule)
Friday, November 18, 2022– Noon to 1 p.m.
NO MEETING IN DECEMBER 2022
Friday, January 20, 2023 – Noon to 1 p.m.
Friday, February 10, 2023 – Noon to 1 p.m.
Friday, March 24, 2023 – 11 a.m. to noon
Friday, April 28, 2023 – 11 a.m. to noon
Friday, May 26, 2023 – 11 a.m. to noon
Friday, June 23, 2023 – 11 a.m. to noon
Conditions for Assistance for FY2023
We are pleased to announce that the Conditions for Assistance for FY2023, formerly the Special Education Program Plan Statement (SEPPS), is now available. All LEAs will be required to submit an updated Conditions for Assistance for FY23 which must be approved before your FY23 IDEA grants can be approved. You can find a Word document of the form here.
Federal Guidance: Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding Use of Discriminatory Discipline
Dyslexia Guidance Support and Regulation Questions
As part of our work on updating and improving dyslexia guidance and regulation, DESE is now offering a new way to support district and school personnel with questions and suggestions.
For support on all dyslexia regulation-related questions and comments, as well as public comments related to the proposed regulatory changes please email: specialeducation@doe.mass.edu
For support on all dyslexia guidelinesand any other dyslexia-related questions please email: dese_dyslexia@mass.gov
As a reminder, the window for public comment on the proposed changes to the Dyslexia Screening Regulations emailed in our last update will close on Friday, August 19th.
There will be an upcoming webinar on Indicator 7 data and the use of the ECOS database. Starting with the 2022-2023 school year, all districts will submit data on an annual basis. To better support you in understanding and implementing these data collection changes, our external evaluators for Indicator 7 and SSIP, Dr. Zach Weingarten and Dr. Taletha Derrington, will be holding a webinar on October 12, 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Drs. Weingarten and Derrington will present a short review of the ECOS database and what annual data collection will look like this year. Please ensure that your district is represented at this training, as this will be the perfect opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on Indicator 7 data submission. Districts must register for the webinar by following this link.
It Takes a Partnership! District & DCF Network Meeting
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and DESE are hosting our Fall semi-annual networking meeting to focus on strengthening partnerships that support students in foster care by improving communication and collaboration. Please join us on Wednesday, August 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a virtual networking session in anticipation of the start of the 2022 - 2023 school year. A presentation from District Foster Care Points of Contact and DCF Social Workers will focus on strategies and processes for communication.
We ask that interested individuals register to receive the login information for this meeting. During registration you will be asked to identify which regional office with which you collaborate most often concerning foster care students. Questions on content and other logistics can be directed to achievement@doe.mass.edu.
Key Resources from The Arc of Massachusetts
The Arc of Massachusetts is offering a Watch & Learn: Disability Film Series consisting of short films featuring individuals with disabilities. For more information about the film series, please contact Kathleen Amaral: Kamaral@arcmass.org or 781-891-6270 ext. 110.
Also available is their Pathways to Friendship website, which provides free resources such as toolkits, stories, and guides to support inclusive friendships and community connections. Please visit the Pathways to Friendship website for more information.
In Case You Missed It
As the new school year approaches, please make sure all contact information is up to date so that we may continue to communicate with you!
Visit District Profiles to check that your name and current email address are listed in your district’s directory. If the directory needs to be updated, please follow up with your district’s Directory Administrator.
