Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Logo
Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Special Education Advisory Council and Special Education Advisory Panel

Under both the Massachusetts General Laws (c. 15, §1G) and federal regulations (34 CFR § 300.167), the Department is required to establish and maintain a state Special Education Advisory Council and a federal Special Education Advisory Panel composed of individuals involved in or concerned with the education of children with disabilities. In existence for over 30 years, the advisory groups' membership has included a diverse group of individuals reflecting both the state and federal statutory requirements of membership, including agency designees. The responsibilities of the Special Education Advisory Council and the Special Education Advisory Panel include:

  1. advising on unmet needs within the state in the education of children with disabilities;
  2. commenting on proposed rules and regulations involving special education;
  3. advising in developing evaluations and corrective action plans; and
  4. assisting in the coordination of services to children with disabilities.

Special Education Advisory Panel Documents

Advisory Council Members

The Special Education Advisory Council is composed of members appointed by the Commissioner on behalf of 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.

Special Education Advisory Council
RequirementOrganizationName
ParentsParentsCarmen Pimentel
Edith Bazile
Renee Toth
Cynthia Mahoney
Thomas Stewart
Representative from Business, Labor, Civic, Education, Parental, and Professional GroupsASECarla Jentz
FederationRuth Diaz
Mass UrbanAlpha Sanford or Susan Rees
MOECSusan Farrell
MACJeanine Solomon
*Ex Officio DMHDMHOmar Irizarry
*Ex Officio DPHDPHLisa Sheehy
*Ex Officio DDSDDSBeth Doyle
*Ex Officio Department of Public Welfare (DTA)DTAKristen Britton

Advisory Panel Members

The Special Education Advisory Panel is composed of members appointed by the Commissioner. A majority of the members are individuals with a disability or a parent of a child with a disability. Membership is representative of the State population and individuals involved in or concerned with the education of children with disabilities.

Special Education Advisory Panel
RequirementOrganizationName
Parents or Individual with disabilitiesParents and/or Individuals with DisabilitiesJennie Dunkley
Laurie McCarron
Christine Palladino-Downs
Amy LaBarge
Ariella Hellman
Courtney Edman
Jenny Klein Sosa
Lizabeth Lane Morse
Seetha Burtner
Kate Anderson
Angela Grella
Magalie Pinney
Roxann Harvey
Jennifer Fellows-Gardner
Nina Kegan
TeachersWorcesterLora Barish
AgawamShannon Woishnis
Higher Ed
State and Local Education Officials (McKinney Vento)DESEShirley Fan-Chan
Administrators of Programs for Students with DisabilitiesSpecial Education AdministratorAndrea Stolar
Other State Agencies Involved in the Financing or delivery of Related ServicesDPHMary Dennehy-Colorusso
Private Schools and Public ChartersPublic Charter SchoolSara Nelson
MAAPSJudy Hurlburt or Elizabeth Becker
Vocational, Community, or Business Organization concerned with transition servicesMRCTo be appointed
Child Welfare AgencyDCFJames Morrison
State Juvenile and Adult CorrectionsDYSLisa Sirois
Special Education in Intuitional settings (SEIS)Vacancy Theresa Senio

2023-2024 Meeting Schedule

DateLocationTimeNote
December 12, 2023 Special Education Advisory Council and Advisory Panel
Virtual Meeting
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
February 13, 2024 Special Education Advisory Council and Advisory Panel
Virtual Meeting
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM If you would like a link to make a brief public comment during the meeting or if you would like to participate as an observer, please email your request to: specialeducation@massmail.state.ma.us
April 9, 2024 Special Education Advisory Council and Advisory Panel
Virtual Meeting
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM If you would like a link to make a brief public comment during the meeting or if you would like to participate as an observer, please email your request to: specialeducation@massmail.state.ma.us
June 11, 2024 Special Education Advisory Council and Advisory Panel
Virtual Meeting
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM If you would like a link to make a brief public comment during the meeting or if you would like to participate as an observer, please email your request to: specialeducation@massmail.state.ma.us

Public Participation in Special Education Advisory Panel

All Advisory Group meetings will be held virtually until further notice

The Special Education Advisory Groups welcome public comment on matters within its purview. Accordingly, a maximum 30-minute period is made available at its meetings for persons in the audience to address the Advisory Groups for no longer than 3 minutes. Written material of any length may be submitted. Preference will be given to persons who seek to address specific agenda items for the upcoming meeting. Agendas for upcoming meetings are posted prior to the meeting on the Special Education Advisory Groups website. Persons wishing to speak are strongly encouraged to submit their request before the day of the meeting; contact information is provided below. Preference will be given to those who submit requests by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the scheduled meeting. If time permits, the Chair will allow members of the public who have not contacted the Department in advance to speak in the public comment period; those individuals must sign in prior to the start of the meeting. The Chair may limit the number of speakers due to time constraints and may increase or reduce the time allocated per speaker. While there is no requirement to submit comments in writing, a speaker who elects to do so should submit copies of their comments prior to or at the meeting for distribution to Advisory Group members. Requests to address the Advisory Groups, written comments, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Special Education Advisory Groups, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149, Phone: 781-338-3375. E-mail: specialeducation@doe.mass.edu . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

Contact Information

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

Special Education Planning and Policy Office
specialeducation@doe.mass.edu

Last Updated: May 30, 2024

 
Contact Us

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

Voice: (781) 338-3000
TTY: (800) 439-2370

Directions

Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.