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Ludlow Public Schools

BELONGING COMMUNITY OPTIMISM GROWTH

Special Education

Announcement

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring

Ludlow Public Schools logo

LUDLOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

205 Fuller Street ∙ Ludlow, Massachusetts 01056                                      

Phone 413.583.8372 ∙ a_rist@ludlowps.org 

 

April Rist, Ph.D. - Director of Special Education

BELONGING ∙ COMMUNITY ∙ OPTIMISM ∙ GROWTH

 

March 27, 2026

 

Dear families and caregivers,

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Ludlow Public Schools during the week of April 27, 2026. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.  

Ludlow Public Schools will be undergoing a Group A monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity. For additional information, please also see Integrated Monitoring Parent and Family Orientation

The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, a review of student records, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.

The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Michelle Hennessy-Kowalchek, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (413) 314 6709 or Michelle.Hennessy-Kowalchek@mass.gov to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at the Department of Education website.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Special Education Office.

 

Sincerely, 

 

April Rist

April K. Rist, Ph.D

 

 

Our Mission

Special Education at Ludlow Public Schools is dedicated to inclusive equal accessibility to education for all students. With the collective efforts of parents, students and staff our community promotes a sense of belonging and acceptance to promote a supportive educational environment. Special education provides services and accommodation, outlined in the IEP, unique to the needs of students with different abilities

The IEP

The Individualized Education Plan is developed by the IEP Team (including students, parents/guardians, evaluators and educators) through the Eligibility Determination Process. Please see the process steps outlined below.

  • Initial Referral
  • Consent to Evaluate
  • Evaluations
  • Eligibility Determination
  • IEP Team Meeting
  • Writing the IEP
  • Parent Response to the IEP

Once a student has an accepted IEP there will be yearly reviews to evaluate student progress and make any necessary adjustments to the IEP. There will also be 3 year Reevaluations to have up-to-date tests, determine continued eligibility and help make informed changes to the IEP. 

 

Special Education Parent Advisory Council 

SEPAC or Special Education Parent Advisory Council is a self-governing public body for the school district. Parents and Guardians of students with IEPs or 504s are encouraged to join. Here parents work with the district and school committee to help maintain effective special education programs. SEPAC is also a support network and a place to share personal experiences and concerns. To learn more about SEPAC and upcoming meetings please visit the Parent Advisory page.

Parent/Guardian Resources

Eligibility Determination Process

Notice of Procedural Safeguards

Guide to Special Education

DESE Parent Information

Federation for Children with Special Needs

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Family TIES

Parent Training & Information Center

 

 

 

Procedural Safeguards

The Parent’s Notice of Procedural Safeguards outlines the legal rights parents and students have in regards to the Evaluation and IEP process. Including confidentiality, record access, parent consent, and dispute resolution. If you have any questions about those rights, please feel free to contact us. We will do our best to answer any questions or provide additional resources for you. You can also visit the DESE Procedural Safeguards web-page to access the document and available translations.  

IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a U.S. federal law that makes available a free appropriate public education for children with disabilities and ensures special education and related services to those children. It also supports early intervention services for infants, toddlers and their families. IDEA outlines procedures for identifying, evaluating and providing special education services for students and children who are found eligible. To learn more about the IDEA please visit Parent Center Hub on IDEA.

Child Find

Child Find is a part of the IDEA which mandates that all states and school districts are required to actively identify, locate and evaluate children from birth through age 21, who may have disabilities and need special education services. This includes children in public, private and home school settings. 

Related Services

Related services are support services outlined in an IEP. These services go beyond academic accommodations and instruction to help students with disabilities make academic, social and functional progress. Related services often involve working with licensed professionals inside and outside the classroom setting. They can be individual sessions or in a group setting depending on what is outlined in the IEP. Related services may be provided across any setting, including the general education classroom, promoting access to the Least Restrictive Environment. The types of services a student on an IEP receives and how often they receive them is addressed on the Service Delivery Grid of the IEP. If you would like to learn more about related services please visit the Related Services page of the FCSN website.

  • School-based OT services address physical, cognitive, and sensory needs impacting student access to the curriculum.

  • School-based PT services address physical challenges that may impact the student’s access to and participation in the learning environment.

  • School-based counseling services support students in the development of social, emotional, and behavioral skills related to accessing the student’s education.

  • Hearing services are provided by a Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing (ToDHH). The ToDHH is skilled in using a variety of methods to support students who are Deaf or have hearing impairments. They have specialized knowledge and training in the use of cochlear implants, FM systems, hearing aids, and other assistive devices to support students in their ability to access and participate in the educational environment.

  • School-based SL services are intended to assist students with disabilities in the areas of speech, language, voice, or fluency that impact their ability to access the curriculum.