What is Concord SEPAC?
The Concord SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) is a volunteer group of parents that advises the Concord Public and Concord-Carlisle RSD school committee(s) and administration on matters pertaining to the education and safety of children with disabilities.
The Concord SEPAC also serves to support parents and caregivers throughout their journey in our schools. Through social events, as well as informative presentations, we connect and educate parents, caregivers, and the community.
Membership is free and open to parents/caregivers of students with a disability, students on an IEP or 504 plan, teachers, administrators, and interested residents of Concord and Carlisle.
We welcome new members and love working together to support students and families. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about SEPAC or about special education. No question is too big or too small! We are happy to answer all of your questions. You can email us at concordsepac@gmail.com.
We invite you to join our community of parents working together to ensure understanding, respect, support, and the appropriate education of all students on an IEP. Volunteering is a great way to get to know the administration, teachers, and staff in our districts. You’ll also learn more about special education and the many opportunities and resources available for your child. Please consider volunteering.
Please visit our Volunteer page to learn more about these positions and how to get involved!
Upcoming Events:
The New IEP
Please join us for a presentation to the SEPAC highlighting the New Massachusetts IEP form. Student Services Director Angel Charles and our Special Education Coordinators will provide an overview of the New IEP form and discuss what you can expect as we begin to adopt the new form next year.
Topic: SEPAC Presentation: The New IEP
April 24, 2024 06:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://concordps.zoom.us/j/99338135482
Meeting ID: 993 3813 5482
Please Join us 5/1 @7pm Basic Rights-Understanding the IEP Process
Registration here:
http://fcsn-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcumspjMiE9IPe13AKlfys3ixAdywMW8S
7th Annual SEPAC Appreciation Awards
Spring is coming and so are the Appreciation Awards! Is there a teacher, tutor, counselor, aide, administrator or any other school staff member who has made a difference to your child this year?
The Concord Public Schools and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites families from Concord, Carlisle and Boston with a child on an IEP or 504 Plan to honor a special person (or persons) with a SEPAC Appreciation Award!
In our 7th year, the SEPAC Appreciation Awards offer families the opportunity to reflect on the school year and to recognize staff members in our districts who have made exceptional efforts to support our students.
Please complete a submission form to let us know about your special person! The submission form for SEPAC Appreciation Awards is NOW OPEN and closes on April 12th. We plan to hold a ceremony for our award recipients on May 9th so please save the date!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemu1H7F1B9MllZvlA6FwA0NGGubwmJcNB1yZhKoGcPQsu-Cw/viewform
Questions? You can reach us at appreciationawards@gmail.com
SEPAC Survey: Tell us More!
The mission of the SEPAC is to serve as a resource to families, foster an inclusive culture in our schools & communities, and advise our districts on issues that affect the education of our children.
How can we be a better resource? Help build our community? Please take our short survey and let us know your thoughts!
Past Events:
SEPAC Coffee in the Park
April 10th at 9:15
Please join SEPAC members and other parents/guardians for a casual coffee and conversation meetup.
We will meet at Rideout playground under the covered picnic tables. 61 Laws Brook Rd, Concord. Rain or shine.
Summer Camps SEPAC presentation:
-The district’s Extended School Year (ESY) programs.
-Concord Recreation & Inclusion Camp
-Fuse
-Drumlin Farm
-Peter Pan Center
-Timbernook.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mr8rGUEO4Cq2UvN7z2Ahzi87DfKmuIeb/view?usp=drivesdk
SEPAC Board Meeting
12/6/23 @ 7:00 PM
Google Meet
https://docs.google.com/…/16U48BakU5sVvJtdVxy3uJ…/edit
Concord & C-C SEPAC Evening Social-All are welcome
Dec 1st
6:30 pm / In–person
Please join us at Nosh @97 Lowell Rd-Concord. In the upper bar area.
Meet other parents and members of SEPAC, ask questions and share ideas.
Light snacks will be provided.
Summer Programing and ESY Forum
Changes are underway for general education and special education summer programming. The one size fits all approach is out and personalized learning is in! Please join us for an online forum on November 14th with our new Director of Student Services, Angel Charles, who will provide an overview of the changes and answer parent questions.
Topic: SEPAC Forum: ESY
Time: Nov 14, 2023 5:30 – 7pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://concordps.zoom.us/j/99099044203
Meeting ID: 990 904 4203
Concord & Concord-Carlisle Tiered Focused Monitoring Review
DESE should have already sent the below email asking for feedback on special education in our district. If you did not get the email see below for a copy. You may also contact Charles Agong at (781) 338-3753 or Charles.O.Agong@mass.gov
The survey is due 11/17 and a parent orientation for Tiered Focused Monitoring is 11/6 at 11am over zoom: Meeting ID: 88386821270
Below that is more information from the superintendent’s newsletter on the review process. As well as the DESE info page:https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/parents/default.html
Dear Parent or Guardian,
A review of your district’s special education programs is being conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education during the week of November 27, 2023. Your input on the Special Education Parent Survey will help determine how well your district is meeting state and federal requirements.
Your response is important to us, so please complete the survey by November 17, 2023. A summary of responses from all parents completing this survey will be used to evaluate the district’s efforts to meet requirements for special education.
If you have questions or need assistance in completing this survey, you may contact me at (781) 338-3753. If you prefer a paper copy, or require another link for any additional children, please contact me. Thank you very much for your help in making this program review successful.
Sincerely,
Charles Agong
TFM Chair, Office of Public School Monitoring
Click Here to Start the Survey: https://s-c190fd-i.sgizmo.com/s3/i-kzzPLxcPQd1ySx0k2B-6547833/?sguid=kzzPLxcPQd1ySx0k2B
More info:
During the week of November 27, 2023, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Concord & Concord Carlisle Schools. The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special
education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school
programs for all students.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.
Parents and other individuals may call Charles Agong, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338-3753 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide Concord & Concord Carlisle Schools with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.
Concord Public/Concord-Carlisle Regional SEPAC 