The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has supplemented its Initial Fall Reopening Guidance with special considerations and guidance for services and instruction for students who qualify for special education. While DESE has asked all districts to develop plans that prioritize in-person learning, this new specialized guidance suggests that the focus on in-person is especially important for students receiving specialized instruction or services.
Comprehensive Special Education Guidance for the 2020-21 School Year Memo
Below is the text of the On the Desktop message from Commissioner Riley regarding this additional guidance.
News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley & the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
On the Desktop – July 9, 2020
Comprehensive Special Education Guidance for the 2020-21 School Year
Dear Superintendents, Charter School Leaders, Leaders of Collaboratives, Executive Directors of Approved Special Education Schools, Private School Leaders and Special Education Directors,
The attached Comprehensive Special Education Guidance for the 2020-21 School Year Memo (download) supplements the Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance, released on June 25. The Initial Fall Reopening Guidance asks schools and districts to prioritize and begin planning for in-person instruction, while simultaneously preparing blueprints for both remote learning and a hybrid school model (a combination of in-person and remote learning), should local conditions change this school year. This document complements the Initial Fall Reopening Guidance by providing further information on supporting students with disabilities during the upcoming school year. It also provides necessary information in support of schools and districts, as they develop the portion of their reopening plans specifically related to special education.
Thank you for your ongoing efforts to provide the highest quality educational services to students with disabilities.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey C. Riley
Commissioner
