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The Board of Education Advisory Councils

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:

  1. advise the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on unmet needs within the State in the education of children with disabilities;
  2. comment publicly on proposed rules and regulations involving special education;
  3. advise the ESE in developing evaluations and corrective action plans;
  4. 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.

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 AbbateMA Association of Approved Private Schools (MAAPS)
Jane BuckleyMA Rehabilitation Commission
Alexandra BuckmireBoston Renaissance Charter Public School
Peter CirioniOffice for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth
Jennie DunKleyParent
Mary FitzgeraldMA Office on Disability
Robin Foley, CHAIRFederation for Children with Special Needs - Parent Representative
Alison FraserParent
Karen Haverty GravesParent
Gail HavelickMA Department of Public Health
Carla B. JentzMA Administrators for Special Education
Fred KnowlesMA Department of Mental Health
Rose MilasMA Department of Youth Services
Therese Murphy-MillerMA Department Of Mental Retardation
Alec PeckBoston College
David RileyMA Urban Project
Patricia Schram, V. CHAIRChildren's Hospital, Boston
Susan StelkMA Department of Social Services
Amy YoungParent

FY2007-2008 Meeting Schedule

DateLocationTime
Tuesday, September 18, 2007Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester Foundation Campus
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. SAC Meeting
1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. New SAC Member Orientation (all members are welcome; lunch will be provided)
Tuesday, October 9, 2007Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
State Special Education Steering Committee
(lunch will be provided)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center
UMass Medical School - Worcester
Shrewsbury, MA
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • There will be nine scheduled SAC meetings, including the State Special Education Steering Committee meeting - which includes the SAC - and will be held on Dec. 11, 2007. (There will be no meeting in January 2008.)

  • After the first meeting, the meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of the month.

  • Most meetings will be held in the morning, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., except for the Steering Committee meeting, which will extend until 3:30 p.m.

  • All meetings will be held at the Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center at UMass Medical School - Worcester Foundation Campus, Shrewsbury, MA.

Contact Information:

For further information, including meeting agendas/minutes, please contact:

Sarah Harvey
Liaison to the Special Education Advisory Council
781-338-3361
781.338.3371 (fax)



last updated: April 28, 2008
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