Wayland Public Schools

Special Education Policy and Procedures Manual

Limitations of Use

The purpose of this operating and procedural manual is to provide support and guidance to the administration and staff of the Wayland Public Schools. Nothing in this manual is intended to create nor does it create enforceable rights, remedies, entitlements, or obligations. The Wayland Public Schools reserves its right to change or suspend any or all parts of this manual at the District’s discretion to ensure full compliance with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and federal guidelines established within the reauthorization of individuals with Disability Education Act of 2004.

District Mission Statement

Personal and civic responsibility, love of learning, and empathy for others: these are the qualities that the Wayland Public Schools seek to instill in its students. At its core, our mission is to provide a rigorous and stimulating academic environment that promotes the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Yet we deem it equally important to nurture self-confident, collaborative, and conscientious individuals. We strive to create a climate where risk-taking is safeguarded, open expression is encouraged, and free association is protected. Our goal is to advance our students' growth into principled, informed, and capable citizens who will help guide a democracy that follows humanitarian principles in the global forum, and shape a just society where individuals may reach their full potential.

Introduction
The Wayland Public Schools provide a continuum of programming and services to ensure that students with disabilities are provided with individualized instruction according to their unique learning needs.

The Wayland Public Schools engage in practices that promote inclusive education for students with disabilities in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Educators provide accommodations and adapt curriculum so that students with disabilities can be appropriately educated alongside their grade-level peers. The school district provides students with disabilities access to general educators and appropriately licensed special educators who work directly with students and collaborate with general education colleagues and related service personnel to individualize the learning experience of students with disabilities.

This manual has been developed as a resource for Wayland staff, administration and members of the community to ensure consistency and accuracy of special education practices across the district. It references state and federal regulations and the processes of the Wayland Public Schools. It is not meant to replace the regulations and is, therefore, not an inclusive manual of all regulations. The following policies and procedures are aligned with: