The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Special Board Meeting on Special Education

The topic for the Board's special meeting on May 23, 2011 is Special Education: Background Information, Policy Issues, and Initiatives. Special education is intended to provide services to students who have disabilities and who, because of those disabilities, need specially designed instruction to have access to the general education program of the school. Specially designed instruction is instruction that is normally not available to students in general education. Currently, 17 percent of Massachusetts public school students receive special education services.

Marty Mittnacht, who heads our Office of Special Education Planning and Policy Development, will present an overview of special education in the Commonwealth. Professor Thomas Hehir of the Harvard Graduate School of Education will discuss his ongoing research on the identification, placement, and performance of students with disabilities. Also, we will hear from the Board's Special Education Advisory Council. Chair Jennie DunKley and Co-chair Patricia Schram will discuss the work of the Advisory Council.

Enclosed as background information is the Department's Report to the Legislature: Annual Report on Students with Disabilities, 2009-2010.

Enclosure: