Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School committee approves 2024–25 Special Education Program Improvement Plan, with minor wording change
Summary
Quincy Public Schools staff presented the 2024–25 Special Education Program Improvement Plan highlighting the new RDLC site, training on revised IEP forms and LEAP partnerships; the committee approved the plan after a motion to adjust CPAC-related wording.
Quincy Public Schools special education staff presented and the School Committee approved the district’s 2024–25 Special Education Program Improvement Plan on Dec. 11.
The plan, presented by the special education team, outlines services for more than 2,000 students across integrated pre-K, resource rooms, substantially separate classes and out-of-district placements. Staff highlighted the August 1, 2024 approval and opening of the Rick DeCristofaro Learning Center (RDLC), which welcomed 45 students in grades K–8 this fall, and training to implement a new IEP form required by the Commonwealth.
Presenter(s) described goals including districtwide adoption of the new IEP form for 100% of initial reviews and reevaluations by June 2025, expanded postsecondary LEAP partnerships with Quincy College to add volunteer and employment sites for participating students, and use of data tools to improve attendance for a district goals program (aiming to raise daily attendance from roughly 60% to 70% in that program).
Committee members asked detailed questions about dyslexia screening tools (built into the Amplify curriculum screening), how Aspen form glitches were resolved, RDLC staffing, inclusion rates and whether outcome metrics such as percent of IEP goals met could become future accountability measures. Staff said the district had worked to align the Aspen platform, provided multiple professional-development sessions, and will continue monitoring and collaborating with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC).
During discussion, Speaker 11 moved to accept the plan with a single wording change — amending a CPAC goal so the special education team "will work with CPAC to increase parent engagement" rather than stating a parental-volunteer obligation. The chair called for approval and the plan was accepted by the committee.
The committee’s approval authorizes the district to continue implementing the plan steps described; several members praised the special education staff’s work and asked staff to supply follow-up materials (for example, breakdowns of vision vs. hearing counts and a list of LEAP partner sites).
