Parent Meeting Presentation

1. MILTONMILTON
SPECIAL EDUCATIONSPECIAL EDUCATION
PARENT ADVISORY COUNCILPARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Milton SEPAC
Educate • Advocate • Participate

2. Chairperson Michelle Connolly
Vice Chairperson Ann Finnegan
Secretary Kevin Lenane
Treasurer Doug Connolly
Members at Large
Norah Ferry Linda Mancini
Shannon Gallagher Amanda Serio
Clare Keating Jerry Vitti
SEPAC Board 2014-2015

3. 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.
Who Are We?

4. • Advise the district on matters that pertain to the
education and safety of students with disabilities,
professional development and parent concerns,
• Meet regularly with school officials to participate in the
planning, development, and evaluation of the school
district’s special education programs,
What we do

5. • Provide educational/informational forums to parents,
educators, students and professionals, and
• Promote communication and programs within the
community to encourage understanding, acceptance
and inclusion of special needs children.
What we do

6. We strive to make a difference in the lives of students with special needs by:
• providing families support, information and training on the special
education process, and laws that govern their child’s right to a free and
appropriate education in the least restrictive environment,
• networking and sharing resources to better support our children’s needs,
• working in partnership with the school district to create and improve
positive outcomes for students with disabilities,
• promoting education, communication and programs within our
community
Our Mission

7. O
ct
1
st
2
004
2
005
2
006
2
007
2
008
2
009
2
010
2
011
2
012
2
013
2
014
I
EPs
6
04
6
25
6
00
5
92
6
09
6
29
6
46
6
49
5
80
5
38
5
64
O
OD
7
9
6
8
7
1
5
9
5
6
5
1
4
4
4
9
5
1
4
5
4
7
5
04s
~
28
7
2
1
78
*
Total
M
PS
3
594
3
651
3
724
3
768
3
876
3
952
3
921
3
886
3
934
3
944
4
064
MPS Students on IEPs & 504s
*DESE report

8. What kinds of disabilities do Milton students have?
Disability
M
PS
Disability
M
PS
Communicatio
n
1
05
Neurological
4
0*
Specific
Learning Disability
9
6*
Development
al Delay (3-9 years)
4
6
Health
7
6
Intellectual
3
4*
Autism
6
5*
Physical 4
Emotional
4
1*
Sensory-
Hearing
5
Sensory-
Vision
4
*Additional students in Out-of-District placements

9. SEPAC Self-Examination
SEPAC • District • Community
Educate • Advocate • Participate

10. SEPAC Self-Examination
Successes ~ Challenges
Have to’s ~ Want to’s

11. 2014-2015 Goals & Objectives
• Strengthen Infrastructure
• Improve Communication
• Increase PAC Membership
• Advocacy and Advisory Participation

12. #1 Priority
2014-2015 Goals & Objectives
Strengthen Infrastructure

13. Strengthen Infrastructure
2014-2015 Goals & Objectives
• Restructure organization to meet MA guidelines to serve as
operational SEPAC, revise bylaws to reflect changes
• Develop more interactive website with links to essential
services, programs and community events
• Establish clear goals and objectives for school calendar year
with deadlines to meet,
• Create committee structure to effectively address various
goals/needs in special education,
• Increase participation in school committee and
administrative meetings,
• Solicit volunteer support from students and community

14. 2014-2015 Goals & Objectives
New website: www.miltonsepac.org
New email: miltonsepac@yahoo.com

15. • Update MPS Special Education Programs and Supports and
district’s SPED policies
• Clearly establish/update district contact information in all
communication materials,
• Work collaboratively with district SPED office to provide
clear resources to parents,
• Meet monthly with the Administrator of Pupil Personnel
• Design communications to be more interactive
Improve Communication
2014-2015 Goals & Objectives

16. • Revise and update website, program materials and
resources
• Provide current calendar of events, links to local and
community presentations
• Increase PAC listserv of parents
• Share information about PAC events/meetings in school
newsletters and other publications
• Provide child care at monthly PAC meetings
Increase SEPAC Membership
2014-2015 Goals & Objectives

17. • Identify areas that need attention/compliance to State and
Federal special education laws,
• Work collaboratively with district on special educational issues,
upcoming special educational initiatives and policies,
• Serve as a liaison between parents/guardians and school
officials to encourage better understanding and communication on
SPED issues,
• Advise school committee and administration on development
of special education programs, parent, and teacher training needs
Advocacy & Advisory Participation
2014-2015 Goals & Objectives

18. 2014-2015
Advocacy/Advisory Priorities
• Addressing the Achievement Gap in SPED
- Addressing the Achievement Gap in Special Education, Sept. 2014
www.miltonps.org/documents/AddressingtheAchievementGap14.pdf
- Addressing the Achievement Gap: Follow up presentation, Oct 2014
www.miltonps.org/documents/AddressingtheAchievementGap-FOLLOWUP.pdf
• Extended School Year (ESY) services
- Extended day services
• Social/Emotional Curriculum
• Co-taught classroom viability
- English program/French CAP

19. • Website
• Communications
• Education
• Advocacy/Advisory
• Community Outreach
2014-2015 Proposed Committees

20. SEPAC Calendar/Events
11/4 7pm SEPAC Parent Session
11/5 7pm Citizen’s Speak
11/14 12N Monthly Mtg w/Karen Clasby
11/18 7pm SEPAC Board Mtg
12/2 7pm SEPAC Parent Workshop

21. SEPAC Member Feedback
Workshops District Issues
Training Committees
Restructuring Volunteering

22. Milton SEPAC
Educate • Advocate • Participate
Thank You!