The Special Education Advisory Council
The Special Education Advisory Council is a group of parents and professionals charged by federal special education law and the State to provide policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities within the Commonwealth. Its responsibilities include:
- advise the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on unmet needs within the State in the education of children with disabilities;
- comment publicly on proposed rules and regulations involving special education;
- advise the ESE in developing evaluations and corrective action plans;
- assist in the coordination of services to children with disabilities.
Federal law requires that a majority of the members of this Council be parents of children with disabilities or individuals with disabilities.
Special Education Advisory Council Documents
Child First Memo
Child-First Practice When Serving Students with Disabilities in Educational Setting
Council Members
The Special Education Advisory Council is composed of members recommended by the Commissioner and appointed by the Board of Education. Appointment to the Council is for a three-year term, and no member may serve more than two terms. Over half of the voting members are individuals with a disability or a parent of a child with a disability. Membership is presently comprised of local education officials, teachers, and representatives from higher education, charter schools, special education schools, and organizations that provide transition services to children with disabilities. A reasonable balance of business, civic, labor, and professional groups, and geographic areas, is currently maintained.
| Louis Abbate | President and CEO, Willie Ross School for the Deaf |
| Jane Buckley | Community Services Division Transition Team Supervisor, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission |
| Ann Capoccia | Designee, Department of Mental Health |
| Peter Cirioni | State Coordinator, Office for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth |
| Perry Davis | Former Superintendent, MA Assoc. of School Superintendents |
| Mary Dennehy-Colorusso | Procedural Safeguard Coordinator, Department of Public Health Designee, Part C Representative |
| Jennie DunKley | Parent Representative - Chair |
| Alison Fraser | Parent Representative |
| Nicole Grazado | Special Education Teacher, Swampscott Public Schools |
| Amie Ashley Hane | Parent Representative and Assistant Professor |
| Gail Havelick | Bureau of Family Health & Nutrition, Department of Public Health |
| Carla B. Jentz | Executive Director, MA Administrators for Special Education |
| Tracy Johnston | Parent Representative |
| Christine Kenney | Department of Youth Services |
| Mary Murray | Department of Youth Services |
| Evelyn Nellum | Department of Early Education and Care |
| Alec Peck | Professor, Lynch School of Education, Boston College |
| Susan E. Rasicot | Director of Special Education, Foxborough Regional Public Charter School |
| Patricia Schram | Parent Representative and Medical Community Representative - Pediatrician - Vice Chair |
| Julie Sinclair | Statewide Educator, Federation for Children with Special Needs and Parent Representative |
| Susan Stelk | Director of Education, Department of Children and Families |
FY2010-2011 Meeting Schedule
October 12, Holy Cross, Hogan Campus Center, 9:30-3:30
November 9, Holy Cross, Hogan Campus Center, 9:30-3:30
March 8, Holy Cross, Hogan Campus Center, 9:30-3:30 (snow date April 12)
LOCATION CHANGE
May 10, Best Western, Royal Plaza Hotel, 181 Boston Post Road, Marlborough, MA , 9:30-3:30
Contact Information
For further information, including meeting agendas/minutes, please contact:
Lauren Viviani
Liaison to the Special Education Advisory Council
781-338-3372
718-338-3371 fax
last updated: May 05, 2011
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State Government · State Services 
