Join our mailing list, copy and paste this into your browser: https://forms.gle/TYuAJLeqvLzKNbNb8 For those who have never heard of a SEPAC, “...The school community of any city, town, or school district
shall establish a parent advisory council on special education. Membership shall be offered to all parents
of children with disabilities and other interested parties. The parent advisory council
duties shall include
but not be limited to: advising the school committee on matters that pertain to the education and safety
of students with disabilities; meeting regularly with school officials to participate in the planning,
development, and evaluation of the school committee’s special education programs…” (Section 3 of
Chapter 71B MA Special Education Law)
WHO IS SEPAC FOR? We often receive emails from families saying “We don’t have any children receiving Special Education,
please take us off of your mailing list.” But here’s the thing - SEPAC is not only for the families of children
with IEPs or 504 plans. It is also for “other interested parties.” Chances are, you have someone in your
life - a neighbor, a niece, one of your kids’ teammates - who is receiving Special Education. Perhaps one
of your children is struggling with something that you don’t yet understand. Franklin SEPAC wants to help our community provide better
support, shape a clearer understanding, and promote a greater acceptance of those who face daily
challenges. We know that a supportive, knowledgeable community can often make those challenges a
little (and sometimes a lot) less difficult. MEMBERS OF SEPAC
Parents and/or guardians of children who receive any type of special education services or
accommodations in school, including an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504
accommodation, or an out-of-district school placement,
Parents who think their child may have learning challenges and/or have an interest in
understanding special education, and
Any other member of the community - educators, neighbors, community leaders - who want to
learn more. WHAT DOES SEPAC DO?
Meets regularly during the school year to discuss district special education needs, progress,
concerns and/or questions related to overall district special education programming,
Meet with School Administrators and the School Committee to collaborate on special education
programming and policies in our district,
Provide a support network for families to voice personal concerns and experiences without
judgment,
Organize surveys to see how our district’s special education and general education can improve,
and
Provide resources, workshops, and information on events related to special education. Please be aware that while the Franklin SEPAC cannot provide legal advice, we may be able to
point you to resources that can help in your search for assistance.
