Mission

About Us

The Concord Special Education Parents Advisory Committee is a system wide volunteer organization, we serve as a resource and advisor to parents of children with disabilities ages 3-22; studetns in preschool, kindergraden through grade 8 and Concord Carlisle Regional High School and beyond, serving all Concord supported schools. We work closely with the Concord Public School and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District administration and educators to identify areas of needs and act in an advisory role to the School Committee and the administration. PAC's are state mandated advisory groups.

We are a positive and solution oriented committee that has grown to over 150 members. Over the past years, the SPED PAC played an integral role in the research behind the Concord Education Fund reading and writing grants and making presentations to the school committee.

We can help you become an effective advocate for your child.

We offer a broad range of information, contacts, networking opportunities and members share information (books, tutors, evaluators. etc.) they have found useful in guiding their children's education. We will help you connect with other parents and professionals dealing with similar issues.

You don't have to do this alone.

Our membership is open to parents (or guardians) of children who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 or anyone interested in special education in Concord. We are parents with children who have learning differences. We have monthly educational presentations on a variety of topics. We are a resource for support, networking and information organization.

Look for our meeting announcements and educational presentations in your monthly and weekly school notices, the Concord Journal, Acton Unlimited, Community cable (CTV-60, CTV8), and our PAC calendar webpage.

Education Laws and Regulations 603 CMR 28.00: Special Education (scroll down to number 4 to view the PAC definition):

603 CMR 28.07 (4) Parent Involvement

(4) Parent advisory participation. Each school district shall create a district wide parent advisory council offering membership to all parents of eligible students and other interested parties. The parent advisory council duties shall include but not be limited to: advising the district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities; meeting regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs. The parent advisory council shall establish by-laws regarding officers and operational procedures, and, in the course of its duties, the parent advisory council shall receive assistance from the district without charge, upon reasonable notice, and subject to the availability of staff and resources. The district shall conduct, in cooperation with the parent advisory council, at least one workshop annually within the school district on the rights of students and their parents and guardians under state and federal special education laws. (See MGL c71B, 1C and 3)

section divider

Our PAC Mission

The Concord Special Education Parents Advisory Committee (Concord SEPAC) provides education to parents and the broader community on Special Education issues and services. It works towards the understanding of respect, support, and appropriate education for all children with disabilities in our community and to insure that students' needs under Massuassette Special Education laws and regulations (used to be refer to as Chapter 766) and other applicable laws are being met.

Goals:
1. To become a resource for parents:

Providing information about disabilities and the special education process.

Promoting a network for parents and providing a forum for sharing information.

2. To establish a partnership between Concord school organizations and our group.

Becoming a resource to the School Committee for planning, development and evaluation of special education programs.

Facilitating a productive partnership between parents with children in special programs and the school.

Participating in monthly PTG Presidents' meetings.

Electing a member to serve as the liaison to the each schools' PTG and attend their meetings.

Electing a member to serve as the liaison to the School Committee and attend bi-monthly meetings.

Providing feedback and input to the Concord Special Education Department.

3. To become a resource for the community:

Promoting a community wide understanding of the issues impacting special education.

Encouraging community commitment to support diversity within the education system.

Informing members and community about state law and any other pertinent state mandates.

	One of our original webpages, Created September, 1998, by Melody Orfei Webpage last modified on September 25, 2008 - V8, by Melody Orfei
o.mel@verizon.net