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Ludlow Public Schools

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Special Education

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. 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.

  • Occupational Therapy services help students with disabilities improve and maintain motor skills, sensory processing and other functions that are important for daily tasks and learning.

  • Physical Therapy helps students with disabilities improve their gross motor skills, mobility, and overall physical function so they can access and participate in their educational environment. 

  • Behavioral support aims to assist students with disabilities manage challenging behaviors by teaching them how to express themselves in an appropirate manner that does not impede their ability to learn or their peers. This can include the use of a Berhavioral Intervention Plan (BIP).

  • Counseling helps students with disabilities to address their social and emotional needs, helping them to succeed academically and socially. This can include social skills training, emotional support, individual counseling and group counseling.

  • Audiology and Hearing services includes assessments, assistive technology, and collaboration with the educational team to support students with hearing loss to ensure they can effectively access education.

  • Speech and Language services are provided to students with various communication disorders to improve their communication skills and help them acheive academic and social success.