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Director reports DESE monitoring: Longmeadow special-education services met 39 of 40 standards
Summary
Nicole Pierce Crowe told the committee the district met 39 of 40 DESE monitoring standards, described service expansions (preschool full day, SEL programs, transition planning) and outlined partnerships and training to strengthen services and compliance.
Nicole Pierce Crowe, Longmeadow’s director of special education, presented the department’s annual update to the school committee on April 28, reporting that the district met 39 of 40 standards in a recent DESE integrated monitoring review and that administration has made procedural changes to meet a revised DESE timeline for initial eligibility and IEP completion.
The nut graf: Crowe described expanded preschool offerings (adding a full-day section at Wolf Swamp School), comprehensive related services (occupational, physical, speech and BCBA supports), six school nurses and licensed school adjustment counselors, and several external partnerships with organizations that provide mental-health and transition supports. She said the DESE review covered 40 standards and the district was found to have 39 implemented and one partially implemented.
Crowe explained the partially implemented standard reflected a DESE change to timelines for consent, evaluation, meeting and issuing an IEP — a change that reduced previously available buffer days. "So within the 45 days, you need to send out the consent form, evaluate the student, hold the meeting, and get an IEP out," she said, noting the department revised consent forms and internal checklists to comply.
She highlighted professional development partnerships with the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth, Bay Path and Keys to Literacy, and ongoing consultation with James Levine and Associates for school adjustment counselors. Upcoming work includes a middle-school social-emotional program, expanded transition planning for ages 18–22, and a post-secondary transition fair in the fall in partnership with the Department of Developmental Services, MassAbility and MassHealth.
Committee members praised the report and asked clarifying questions about whether the district’s share of students with IEPs and 504 plans is in line with peer districts; Crowe said district IEP/504 rates (about 21–24% across recent years) are in line with neighboring districts and the state averages when counting both IEPs and 504 plans together.
Crowe closed by inviting committee members and families to review online resources and upcoming events; the committee thanked her for the work and for steps to address the DESE finding.
