Dear SEPAC Community & Friends:

Intro

We hope you and your families are healthy and coping well during this difficult and unprecedented time.  Like you, the SEPAC Board members have been struggling to adjust to the new “normal,”  but we want to dedicate a moment to offering the following information to support our members.

 

District Contact with SEPAC Board

Dr. Jennifer Stys and Allison Wright, the Director and Assistant Director of Student Services respectively, have been in contact with the Board to offer support and help to address any questions from families.  If you have not yet heard from your assigned IEP Team Chair, please email them and copy Dr. Stys and Ms. Wright.

Parent/Caregiver Group Video Conference Call

Please respond via return email if you would be interested in participating in a SEPAC-board-faciliated parent/caregiver support group video call via Zoom.  Feel free to propose preferred dates/times.  The calls would be limited to social and/or emotional support.  No official SEPAC business would be discussed or votes taken during these calls.

Curated List of Sources of Information concerning Special Education and COVID-19

District Information

The most up to date information from the District can be found at the first two links below and includes information concerning a timeline for the District’s plans to connect teachers and students, as well as, information about special education services.

https://retiredsuperintendent.wordpress.com/2020/03/22/3706/  (published March 22nd)

https://retiredsuperintendent.wordpress.com/2020/03/19/a-message-from-the-reading-public-schools-administrative-team/ (published March 19th)

https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/covid-19-information/ (“Frequently Asked Questions” last updated March 17th).

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/covid19.html

U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

https://www2.ed.gov/aboutoffices/list/ocr/frontpagefaq/rr/policyguidance/Supple%20Fact%20Sheet%203.21.20%20FINAL.pdf  (March 21, 2020 Supplemental Fact Sheet)

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ocr-coronavirus-fact-sheet.pdf

(March 16, 2020 Fact Sheet)

Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) Information

https://fcsn.org/fcsns-frequently-asked-questions-page/

FCSN remains open and is staffed remotely.  You may contact FCSN via phone, email or through the online intake form (located on the main page of the website) to ask any questions or let FCSN know your concerns.  FCSN encourages families to follow it on Facebook at @fcsnfb and watch its daily Livestream.  You also can access the video recordings from FCSN’s Linked Over Lunch series and the 2020 Visions of Community Conference via the website and/or Facbook page.

We hope this is helpful.

Thank you,

SEPAC BOARD

SEPAC WEBPAGE