SEPAC news, October 9

10/10/2025 5:54 am

What is SEPAC? Arlington’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) is a volunteer parent group that acts as a resource for parents and caregivers and advises the district and the School Committee regarding meeting the needs of students with disabilities in Arlington. Each school district in the state is required to have a SEPAC.

 

Don’t Miss the First Monthly SEPAC Meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, October 14th, 7:30-8:30pm (Zoom)

Agenda:

  • Learn about SEPAC and its role in the community.

  • Hear from a special guest from the School Committee (SC) who will share the mandate and responsibilities of the SC and how it works with SEPAC.

  • Learn from Alison Elmer, Asst. Superintendent for Student Services about areas of focus for APS special education this school year.

An optional casual parent/caregiver conversation time will follow the meeting from 8:30-9:00pm

 

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) to Review Arlington Public Schools’ Special Education in Key Areas

During the week of November 3, 2025, Arlington Public Schools will be undergoing a routine 3-year monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity.

Read the announcement here.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may email Dee Wyatt, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at Dee.Wyatt@mass.gov to request a telephone interview.

 

Learn More About the Arlington School Committee

Want to learn more about the Arlington School Committee, a governing body that oversees the Arlington Public Schools? Attend our next monthly SEPAC meeting on October 14th @7:30pm (Zoom link); and/or read more about this governing body here.

Want to attend a general or subcommittee meeting to learn more or share your thoughts during the public comment portion of their general session agenda?

View their meeting calendar here (look for “Regular Meeting”).

 

Programs and Services in and Around the Community

NOTE: SEPAC is sharing this information as a courtesy. An endorsement should not be inferred. Have a program or service to share? Please fill out this form.

  • Understanding the Difference Between an IEP and a 504” (a guide provided by the Autism Society of Massachusetts).

     

  • Scholarships for Neurodiverse Students planning on going to college (list provided by Educational Advocates College Consulting Corp.

     

  • Boston Expressive Arts Therapy Services (BEATS) — a creative therapy practice in East Arlington — is offering individual and group sessions that integrate art, movement, music, and other expressive modalities to support emotional growth and mental health. They can help students manage anxiety, depression, and stress; build self-esteem and emotional regulation skills, navigate social challenges and life transitions, and help youth develop healthy ways to express thoughts and feelings. Contact info@beatsllc.org.

     

  • Guidelight Health - is a new clinic that offers intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP) with locations in Woburn and Waltham for youth ages 12-18. Their programs are grounded in DBT, CBT, and mindfulness, with additional education around screens/phones and social media. For more info: https://guidelighthealth.com/

     

  • Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is offering a free Parenting Solutions Library (video) in English and Spanish.

SEPAC Zoom information:

Link: us06web.zoom.us/j/85412052274?pwd=iKNefvVmbpbrtYAKYBEGnbEW1RhcID.1 

Meeting ID: 854 1205 2274

Passcode: 378204

Join by phone: 309 205 3325