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Parents, CPAC and staff press Northampton to fix special-education compliance after DESE findings
Summary
Multiple public commenters, CPAC officers and district staff urged the school committee to respond to a DESE report citing IEP violations, pushed for transparent tracking of missed services and for specific supports, including autism- and severe-disability-focused conflict-prevention training.
Scores of parents, teachers and advocacy group members used the School Committee’s public comment period Thursday to press the district to remedy systemic problems in special education the state has identified and to improve communication and data-tracking.
Speakers described repeated missed services and scheduling that conflicted with Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements. Several asked the committee to accept recommendations from an outside case review and to make more information about missed services available in aggregated, de-identified form.
Key concerns raised: Speakers and CPAC (the district’s parent advisory council on special education) said the district needs: - A transparent, centralized tracking system for missed services (including speech-language, occupational therapy, counseling, paraeducator time and other IEP-mandated services) and…
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