SPECIAL EDUCATION 

LONGMEADOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS  |  535 BLISS ROAD  |   LONGMEADOW, MA  01106  |  P  413-565-4200  |   F 413-565-4215

Special Education is specially designed instruction that addresses the unique needs of students who are found eligible for special education and related services under one of the 13 disability categories identified by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). To be eligible, students between the ages of 3 and 21 must have a disability that adversely affects their educational progress and requires specially designed instruction or related services.

LPS's Special Education Department provides a continuum of programs, services, and supports designed to ensure equitable access and educational success for students with disabilities. This includes special education and Section 504 services based on each student’s individual needs and eligibility, consistent with Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements.

Special education services are available to eligible students beginning at age 3 and continuing through age 21. Families, educators, administrators, and related service providers work collaboratively to identify each student’s unique needs and develop appropriate goals, services, and supports through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.

Inclusion Support
At all grade levels, students may receive special education services and support within the general education classroom, allowing them to learn alongside their peers while receiving the individualized instruction and support outlined in their IEPs.

Specialized Programs
At the elementary, middle, and high school levels, the district offers specialized programs for students who require more intensive or individualized instruction and support.

Service Delivery
Based on each student’s individual needs and IEP, special education services may include:

• Individual or small-group instruction

• Support and instruction within the general education classroom

• Instruction outside the general education classroom when appropriate

• Collaboration among special education teachers, general education teachers, and related service providers

Special Education Staff and Services 

Integrated Preschool 

Longmeadow Public Schools offers a fully integrated preschool program for three- and four-year-old children who live in Longmeadow. Located at Wolf Swamp Road School, the program brings together students with and without disabilities in an inclusive and supportive early childhood environment.

Our preschool classrooms are led by certified early childhood special education teachers with classroom support staff. Through play, hands-on learning, and language-rich instruction, students develop foundational skills in early literacy and language, social development, play, fine and gross motor development, and school readiness. The program follows the Massachusetts early childhood curriculum guidelines and incorporates CKLA, Lively Letters and Handwriting Without Tears.

Our integrated model allows supports and related services to be incorporated naturally into the classroom environment. Students may participate in classroom-based supports such as whole-group speech and language activities and small-group occupational therapy activities. Students who are eligible for special education receive the individualized services identified in their IEPs, which may include related services such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA services, movement and mobility services, and vision or hearing services.

The preschool program operates Monday through Friday, with two half-day sessions:

• Morning: 8:45–11:15 a.m.

• Afternoon: 12:00–2:30 p.m.

The Longmeadow Preschool Program has an annual tuition, with a sliding-scale option available for families who qualify. For more information about the program, enrollment, or tuition, please contact Catherine Beavis, Preschool Coordinator, cbeavis@longmeadow.k12.ma.us.

For eligible preschool-aged children who do not attend the Longmeadow Preschool Program, itinerant special education services may also be available based on the individual needs identified through the special education process.

 LLD   Language-based Learning Disabilities

The LLD Program is a district-wide language based program that serves students in grades 3-8 from all three elementary schools and both middle schools. The elementary program is housed at Blueberry Hill School and the middle school program is located at Williams Middle School. This is a partial inclusion program that provides small group, direct instruction in the areas of reading, writing, and academic support. Small group direct instruction in math is also provided for those students that need it.  Students attend general education classes with peers, as well as all specials, lunch, recess and advisory (at the middle school level). 

 LINC  Longmeadow Integrated Network for Children 

The LINC program is designed for students in grades K-8 who have moderate to severe disabilities across various domains (i.e. language, fine motor, gross motor, social and cognitive) who require  intensive, specially designed instruction and support in order to access the curriculum. The program focuses on functional academics and social skills development. Students are taught with a modified curriculum that is aligned to the Massachusetts Curricu­lum Frameworks. There are is a LINC program at each elementary school and at Williams Middle School for students grades 6-8.  Students served in the program have needs in multiple areas such as communication, social, behavior and academic. 

Life Skills

This program is located at Longmeadow Highschool and is for students that require academic support, and support in daily living activities. As curricular components of this program students at some point during their time in the program will also participate in pre-vocational training,  an internship opportunity and plan for post secondary experiences. 

Child Find Procedures

It is the responsibility of the Longmeadow Public School District to locate, identify, and evaluate any child (ages 3-22) who is a resident of Longmeadow and may have a disability. Referrals are generated from various sources (parents, physicians, school programs, Early Intervention, for example). Evaluations may include academics, speech, fine motor, gross motor, and/or school psychological evaluations. For further information regarding the Child Find Procedures please contact the Longmeadow Public School Special Education Office at 565-4210. 

Procedural Safeguards

The  Parent’s Notice of Procedural Safeguards (PNPS), which is provided annually to families of students receiving Special Education services. The PNPS explains your rights under Special Education law and is available electronically through Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in multiple languages. Additional translated versions can be found here. If you need the Procedural Safeguards in a language not currently found on the DESE website, please contact the Office of Special Education so we can ensure the information is provided in your preferred language. 

SEAL    

The Special Education Alliance of Longmeadow  (SEAL) is a Parent Advisory Council that offers information, support, and networking opportunities to parents.  SEAL is charged by Massachusetts’ state laws to collaborate with the school community and provide advice to the Longmeadow School District regarding the planning, development and evaluation of its special education programs and policies.

Please use this link to learn more,  https://sealma.org/