The next Special Education Leaders’ Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
The Zoom link for this meeting will be sent to Special Education Leaders in a separate email.
FY23 Special Education Program Plan Statement (SEPPS) Submission
All LEAs will be required to submit an updated Special Education Program Plan Statements (SEPPS) for FY23 which must be approved before your FY23 IDEA grants can be approved. The FY2023 SEPPs will be available in the coming weeks, and an email notification will be sent via the Special Education Updates when the SEPP template is posted. Please email the signed program plan statements to specialeducation@doe.mass.edu . If you have any questions regarding the Special Education Program Plan Statements (SEPPS), please see the Department's SEPPS webpage or contact the Office of Special Education Planning and Policy at specialeducation@doe.mass.edu .
MCAS-Alt Decision Making Tool Translation and Availability
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has translated the MCAS-Alt Decision Making Tool and posted it to the IEP Forms website. The decision chart is a tool that may be used to make annual decisions regarding appropriate student participation in MCAS.
As part of the Commonwealth’s efforts to improve early literacy and identify and effectively educate students with dyslexia, the Board of Elementary and Secondary voted during its June 28th meeting to solicit public comment on a proposal to amend the School District Administration and Personnel special education regulations to require all elementary schools to assess each student’s reading abilities and foundational skills at least twice per year from kindergarten through at least third grade.
Full details on the proposed amendment are available by downloading this Board memo. Public comment on this proposed amendment will be accepted via email to DESE’s Office of Special Education Planning and Policy at specialeducation@doe.mass.eduthrough Friday, August 19.
Mileage Reimbursement Increase
As you know, under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's regulations "if a parent provides transportation to an eligible student requiring special transportation consistent with the requirements of 603 CMR 28.05(5)(b), the school district shall reimburse such parent the prevailing rate per mile for state employees." 603 CMR 28.07(6). Effective July 17, 2022, the prevailing rate per mile will be 62¢ per mile.62¢ per mile represents an increase of 3.5¢ over the previous rate of 58.5¢ per mile. In accordance with the regulations, mileage is determined based on a direct route between the student's home and school. Also, no parent is obligated to provide such transportation.
In Case You Missed It
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