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MA DOE Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2009-2: dated January 7, 2009,
Observation of Education Programs by Parents and Their Designees for Evaluation Purposes
The legislature recently amended section 3 of G.L. c. 71B, the state special education law, to require school committees, upon request by a parent, to grant timely and sufficient access by parents and parent-designated independent evaluators and educational consultants (both of whom are referred to in this guidance as "designees") to a child's current and proposed special education program so that the parent and named designees can observe the child in the current program and any proposed program. The law, referred to in this advisory as "the observation law," limits the restrictions or conditions that schools may impose on these observations. The purpose of the law is to ensure that parents can participate fully and effectively in determining the child's appropriate educational program.

MA DOE Technical Assistance Advisory SPED 2009-1, dated Sept 3, 2008.
Transition Planning to Begin at Age 14
Beginning age 14 or sooner if determined appropriate by an individualized education program team, school age children with disabilities shall be entitled to transition services and measurable postsecondary goals, as provided under the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004).

We need your help.  Are you interested in volunteering your time and energy to our SEPAC?
Our special education laws and regulation requires that each school district create a district-wide parent advisory council offering membership to all parents of eligible students and other interested parties.  In our school district, we have had an activity PAC for over 8 years.  This year, however, many of our board members are resigning.  We need parent volunteers for our PAC board and active members to keep our PAC up and running.  If interested please contact Jessica Murphy, our special education director, (978) 341-2490, x8142, Jmurphy@colonial.net,Stefanie Cloutier, 978-369-7592, stefanieAC@comcast.net, and Liz Hopkinson, 978-287-5236, lhopkinson@verizon.net, both past PAC presidents.

We are changing our name from the "Concord SPED PAC" to Concord SEPAC and adding the Concord Carlisle HS Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (CCSEPAC), (pronounced C C C PAC.) The name change is to reflect the population we serve of Concord students in PreK - grade 8 and Concord Carlisle Regional High School and beyond.  Check back for our name change and upcoming announcements.