DESE News Headlines

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07/30/2020		OSEP Webinar: Highlighting Resources and Practices to Support Back to School and Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities

07/30/2020		OSEP Webinar: Highlighting Resources and Practices to Support Back to School and Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
07/10/2020		SP601 Students with IEPs Ages 6–21 Edwin Report
07/10/2020		Comprehensive Special Education Guidance for the 2020-21 School Year Memo
07/10/2020		DESE is seeking a vendor to offer four virtual sections of the same institute on dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia
07/02/2020		New guidance from the federal Office of Special Education Programs on implementation of IDEA Part B procedural safeguards – such as digital signature and notice – in the current COVID-19 environment. Issued June 30, 2020.
07/02/2020		New guidance from the federal Office of Special Education Programs on flexibility in implementation of IDEA Part B fiscal requirements in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issued June 26, 2020.
07/02/2020		New guidance from the federal Office of Special Education Programs on the implementation of IDEA Part B use of funds (in Massachusetts, Fund Codes 240 and 262) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Issued June 25, 2020.
06/11/2020		Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2020-3: Recommended Advance Planning for a Student with an IEP Accepted for Enrollment in a METCO District
06/02/2020		Learning Ally — Audiobooks Solution is offering ALL public districts and schools in MA complimentary access to their online audiobook solution from now until August 1, 2020.
05/21/2020		Significant Disproportionality Update - Review the ongoing support to districts at-risk of future identification and districts currently identified with significant disproportionality in special education.
04/15/2020		DESE is seeking a vendor for "Planning for Special Education Success and Providing Professional Development." Bid documents are available on COMMBUYS and due by June 12, 2020 12:00 PM.
04/09/2020		Special Education Advisory Council meeting will be held virtually April 14, 2020.
04/09/2020		COVID-19 Information and Resources for Special Educators: Additional Resources (Excel)
04/07/2020		Memo from Russell Johnston, Senior Associate Commissioner — 2019-2020 Determinations of Need for Special Education Technical Assistance or Intervention
04/06/2020		MA Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology posted updated guidance on 3/31/2020 for SLPs.
04/01/2020		FY 20 Fund Code 258 Significant Disproportionality in Special Education Targeted Federal Program Improvement Grant Extension
03/31/2020		The Special Education Directors' Regional Meetings scheduled for April 6th, 7th, and 9th have been canceled.
03/26/2020		MCAS- Alt Update: Schools do NOT need to submit MCAS-Alt portfolios by April 3.
03/18/2020		COVID-19 Information and Resources for Special Educators
03/13/2020		Meeting cancelation. The April 7, 2020 Special Education Advisory Council meeting is canceled.
03/13/2020		Webinar today at 3 PM! DESE update: Special Education and COVID-19
03/03/2020		Notice of Public Comment on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Annual State Application. The deadline for submission of public comment is April 2, 2020.
02/19/2020		DESE is seeking a vendor for a statewide program that provides high quality and effective special education services to students residing in state facilities or programs.
01/21/2020		IEP Evaluation Consent Form Attachment N1A, Revised
01/16/2020		Parent's Notice of Procedural Safeguards, Revised November 2019
01/10/2020		Is Special Education the Right Service?: Referral, Evaluation & Eligibility Guide
01/09/2020		The February 4, 2020 Special Education Advisory Council meeting has been canceled.
01/07/2020		Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2020-1: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
2019
12/10/2019		DESE is seeking a vendor to facilitate stakeholder engagement for the IEP Improvement Project. Bid documents are available on COMMBUYS (IEP Improvement Project — Stakeholder Engagement)
12/03/2019		IEP Evaluation Consent Form Attachment N1A, Revised
12/02/2019		Parent's Notice of Procedural Safeguards, Revised November 2019
11/22/2019		Information about the January 2020 Special Education Directors' Regional Meetings
11/12/2019		Explore DESE's e-learning module: A Parent's Guide to Special Education
10/17/2019		Registration information for the Building Inclusive Communities in Early Childhood Conference, October 21, 2019
09/27/2019		October 2019 Regional Meetings for Special Education Directors
09/27/2019		E-learning resource! Explore DESE's e-learning module for Massachusetts Educators called: IDEA Equitable Services for Children with Disabilities Enrolled by Their Parents in Private Schools.
09/19/2019		LEA Assignment Request Form, Revised August 31, 2019
09/05/2019		Letter from the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services regarding state compliance with IDEA Equitable Services — received August 15, 2019
08/23/2019		Update on Data Collection Activities for the Massachusetts State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR)
08/19/2019		FY20 Fund Code 274 and Fund Code 249 discretionary grant programs
08/19/2019		Massachusetts DESE/Extended Evaluation Form Revised (03/22/19)