Skip To Main Content

Special Education Department

The Special Education Department is committed to providing students with disabilities the necessary services they need to be successful at Bristol-Plymouth.  We utilize an inclusion model where our special education teachers and paraprofessionals work closely with content area teachers to meet students' needs directly within the academic classrooms.  Additionally, one of our special education teachers consults with vocational teachers and monitors students’ progress within the shop curricula.   All of our teachers are fully certified in Special Education and our paraprofessionals meet the highly qualified status set by the State.  Each student on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is assigned to one of the teachers below who function as a case manager.  In addition to their classroom teacher responsibilities, they also monitor their students’ IEPs from development at the Team meeting through progress monitoring each quarter.  Home to school communication is very important to our department.  Contact information for all department members is listed below.

Staff

Special Education Teachers

Paraprofessionals

Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

Parent and family input is an integral part of the success of  the Special Education Department at B-P.  We welcome communication throughout the year and especially at IEP and SEPAC meetings.   SEPAC meeting topics include:  MCAS preparation and accommodations, transition services, college preparation, homework help, and motivating reluctant learners.  The SEPAC acts as a resource for parents and provides opportunities for parents to share ideas with each other as well as to communicate with the district on matters related to the support of students with special needs and disabilities.  Parents are able to collaborate with special education staff and administration as we plan for the future of our programs.   
 
2023-2024 SEPAC Dates
March 20, 2024
April 24, 2024
May 22, 2024

Meeting information will be emailed prior to each date with the agenda for the evening and specific location in the school building.  For questions about the SEPAC, please contact Amy Cohen at acohen@bptech.org
 
 
Office of Public School Monitoring

During the week of May 20, 2024 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Monitoring Review of Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School. The Office of Public School Monitoring reviews each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP),Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.

Parent outreach is an important part of the review process. Prior to the review, the chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send an online survey to all parents of students with disabilities receiving services. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the activities of the onsite review and the development of the final report.

The chairperson will also conduct a Parent Orientation meeting to explain the review process and provide parents with an opportunity to ask questions. Parent Orientation will be held on April 24, 2024 at 6 p.m. by Google Meet. To attend this meeting please RSVP and a meeting link will be shared. Following the meeting, all materials shared at the meeting will be emailed to parents of students with disabilities in the district.

During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations. After the conclusion of the review, the public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports.

Parents and other individuals may call Talia Higginbotham, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3763 to request additional information, or contact Amy Cohen, the district coordinator, at 508-823-5151 ext. 114.

For more information, please visit these resources available on the DESE website: