Its okay to have a Learning Disability! It just means you learn differently than others!
Framingham Public Schools provides a broad array of services for children and youth identified with disabilities from the ages of three through twenty-two. State and federal special education laws and regulations, namely The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), govern the referral, evaluation, and placement procedures. Framingham Public Schools is committed to the goal of providing an appropriate education for students with needs in the least restrictive environment.
Department of Special Education
Farley Building
19 Flagg Drive
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-626-9123
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Director
Laura Spear
Assistant Director
Natalia Kierul
Executive Assistant
Sandy Kivlehan
Walsh Middle School Contact:
Krista Brother
Walsh Team Evaluation Coordinator
508-626-9181 ext. 26383
Services Available in All Schools
Resource Room/In-Class Support
Partial Inclusion Opportunities
Occupational Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy
Physical Therapy
Adaptive Physical Education
BCBA/ABA Services
Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Orientation and Mobility
Bilingual Special Education Services
Bilingual special education services are provided to students who need both special education services and instructional support for English Language Learners. Students have access to related services such as speech-language services. The bilingual special educator is fluent in Spanish or Portuguese and can provide native language support to students whose first language is Spanish or Portuguese. The bilingual special educator teaches special education classes in core curriculum subjects and provides consultation to other teachers regarding the student's educational needs. Bilingual speech/language therapists are available to provide native language support to students whose first language is Spanish or Portuguese.
Resource Room Support
The resource room serves students who are placed in general education settings with mild to moderate disabilities. A certified special education teacher and/or instructional assistant work with groups composed of no more than twelve students. Educational instruction is provided consistent with the service recommendations of the student's IEP. Support may be provided for reading, math, written language, organizational and/or other educational needs. Instructional methodologies vary but meet student needs and curriculum goals, which are aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Resource room supports may occur both in and out of the general education classroom.
Inclusion Classrooms
The inclusion classroom consists of a certified special educator who rotates through the student's schedule in order to ensure that the student on an IEP understands the curriculum and is meeting his/her responsibilities. Individual and small group assistance is provided within the standard curriculum classroom. In addition, the student has a daily support class with their special educator on their team. The special educator provides consultation to standard curriculum teachers regarding student's learning style and educational needs. The special educator and teacher assistant ensure that accommodations are being implemented in the standard curriculum classroom.
A Parent Guide to Special Education:
English Parent's Notice of Procedural