Welcome to the Special Education Department
In accordance with IDEA-2004, each special needs school-age child has the right to an appropriate and individualized educational program. Eligibility for special education services is dependent on 1) an inability to progress effectively in a regular educational program and 2) a need for special education intervention because of temporary or more permanent adjustment difficulties or attributes arising from intellectual, sensory, emotional or physical factors, cerebral dysfunctions, perceptual factors, or other specific learning disabilities, or any combination of the above.
When there is a concern about a child’s performance in school, a referral for an evaluation can be made by school personnel, parents/guardians, judicial officer, social worker, family physician or by the child. Referrals are made to the guidance counselor or building principal.
On the basis of referral concerns and questions, an evaluation will be conducted by trained personnel in those areas (such as reading, mathematics, cognition, etc.) agreed upon by members of the evaluation TEAM, which includes parents/guardians. If a child is found to have special needs which cannot be adequately met within regular education, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) must be developed and signed by parents/guardians before a child can begin to receive special education services. The Special Education Department at the middle school provides a range of services to meet the individual needs of students. These services include:
- Supporting the performance of students in regular education classes
- Providing consultation to regular education teachers around curriculum modification or behavior management techniques
- Small group remedial instruction in workshops
- A counseling group designed to address the affective, social and personal development of students
- Speech and language services, and occupational therapy services
These services are specifically prescribed for a student at the recommendation of all members of the Evaluation TEAM. The progress of each student is regularly reviewed at an annual meeting convened by the Case Manager assigned to the student. In addition, every three years a student receives a reevaluation in those same areas assessed previously. At every step of the process, parental consent and involvement is mandatory. For more specific information concerning special education services, contact Special Education at Ripley @ 978-341-2490 x8105 or x8106.
Resources
Staff
Hanae Habri
7th Grade, Special Education
hhabri@concordps.org
Melissa O’Donnell
6th Grade, Special Education
modonnell@concordps.org
Erika Reale
7th Grade Cardinal, 8th Grade Royal, ACCESS Program, Special Education
ereale@concordps.org
Donna Amidon
7th Grade, 8th Grade, Special Education
damidon@concordps.org
Laura Brande
Administration, Special Education
lbrande@concordps.org
Liz LeDuc
7th Grade, Special Education
lleduc@concordps.org
Katie Grotenstein
Guidance, Special Education
kgrotenstein@concordps.org
Hannah Stoudemire
7th and 8th Grade, Special Education
hstoudemire@concordps.org
Hannah Vincent
7th Grade, Special Education
hvincent@concordps.org
Meaghan Kacavich
7th Grade, 8th Grade, Special Education
mkacavich@concordps.org
Rose Salucci
6th Grade, Special Education
rsalucci@concordps.orG
James Patterson Ware
6th Grade, Special Education
jpattersonware@concordps.org
Noelle Rose
6th Grade, Special Education
nrose@concordps.org
Danielle Williams
6th Grade, Special Education
dawilliams@concordps.org
Cara Luther
7th and 8th Grade, Special Education
cluther@concordps.org
Meghan Logan
7th Grade, Connections, Special Education
mlogan@concordps.org
Laura Bastiani
6th Grade, Special Education
lbastiani@concordps.org
William Frangules
7th Grade, Connections, Special Education
wfrangules@concordps.org
Amy Hoey
6th Grade, Special Education
ahoey@concordps.org
Mary Almeida
7th Grade Salmon, 8th Grade Navy, English, Intensive English, Special Education
malmeida@concordps.org