As we look towards a new school year with so many things back to 'normal' and yet so many things not quite the same; I wanted to take a moment to gather preferences from your family, while providing information. This survey will allow for a one family preference even if you have more than one child served on an IEP.

1) Mode of meeting: DESE is encouraging in person meetings to resume, while recognizing that virtual meetings had benefit for families and schools last year. We want to know what your first preference is, while informing you that you have options that if your preference changes you could communicate with us around.

2) Time of meeting: Robin and the special education teams work hard to support having the most team members attend meetings, while also continuing to provide robust services and instruction to students. We want to prepare time that will impact students the least, while also supporting parent availability. We cannot guarantee the preferred day/time, but it would give us an opportunity to reach out directly if we see potential scheduling conflicts early.

3) Notice of Procedural Safeguards: Attached to the email that this form was linked in, was a copy of the safeguards. These must be provided to parents at least once annually. In the past these have been mailed at the end of the summer. This year in an effort to digitize and improve accessibility, that procedure will shift. The new procedure will be that after this initial provision by email at EVERY special education meeting (IEP, 3-year, initial, program review etc.) parents will be offered another copy. As indicated in the survey paper copies will always be provided if that is the preferred method.

Additional information-
Meeting notes: During the team meeting the formal notes will be kept on a Google Doc. this will be shared with the school staff ahead of the meeting, and once the meeting ends the notes will be printed or emailed based on preference and provided to parents/guardians. This again is in an effort to digitize, and also to make sure that after a meeting occurs everyone on the team leaves with the same understanding of decisions arrived at together.

HPS website: I will be working with the principals to include a section related to special education. This will include the safeguards, SEPAC information, any significant new guidance (Dyslexia guidance etc.), and resources.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns,

Molly Bremner, M.Ed.
mbremner@hatfieldps.net
Special Education Director
Hatfield Public Schools