Special Education

Orange: state shortchanges its SPED funding by $3.5 million

Posted on Thursday, February 28th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: David McLellan, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 2/27/2019
Link: Complete Article

ORANGE — It’s not just rural schools feeling left behind by the 25-year-old formula for state aid, it’s schools with a high number of special education students too. Unfortunately, Orange’s elementary schools are both, and the special education issue is costing Orange taxpayers about $3.5 million a year, town officials calculate. The town Finance Committee… [Read More]

Berkshire County weeks from having only special education public day school

Posted on Monday, December 4th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Adam Shanks, Berkshire Eagle
Date: 12/1/2017
Link: Complete Article

NORTH ADAMS — Berkshire County is just weeks from having a special education public day school. The North Berkshire Academy will launch its special education collaborative program in January, inside the North Adams Armory building. It will be the only special education public day school in Berkshire County, serving students from seventh to 10th grades… [Read More]

North Berkshire Academy prepares for success in the Berkshires

Posted on Friday, October 13th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: October 13, 2017

North Adams, MA — Deciding on a perfect site for the new special education public day school at the Armory Building in North Adams was only the beginning. North Berkshire Academy Director Jodi Drury is now immersed in permits and applications, furniture and supplies, materials, technology and curriculum decisions. “You never know what may come… [Read More]

Special Education Professional Development Survey

Posted on Tuesday, January 10th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Massachusetts DESE
Date: 1/10/2017
Link: Complete Article

The Office of Special Education Planning and Policy is in the process of identifying special education professional development activities based on a comprehensive survey of the field. The Department is interested in educators’ opinions about how ESE can best help educators achieve their professional development goals and hopes educators will take 10 minutes to complete… [Read More]

High Court Argument to Center on Level of Benefits for Special Education

Posted on Tuesday, January 10th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Christina A Samuels, Education Week
Date: 1/9/2017
Link: Complete Article

When the U.S. Supreme Court made its first substantive interpretation in 1982 of the main federal special education law, it was careful to say that courts should not impose their own view of education adequacy upon states and districts for children covered by the law. In that case, Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson… [Read More]

HEC Academy Math teacher Bessette receives awards at Northampton Special Education Parents’ Advisory Council awards night

Posted on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: 06/15/2016
Link: Complete Article

HEC Academy Math Content teacher Randall Bessette was recognized at the recent awards dinner held by the Northampton Special Education Parents Advisory council. Randall was nominated by a Northampton HEC Academy student, who felt that Bessette’s skills made learning Math fun, and therefore easier to remember. The student’s submission noted that, “It is because of… [Read More]

Special Olympics participants enjoy the spotlight at Northampton High School track

Posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Gena Mangiaratti, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: May 29, 2015
Link: Complete Article

NORTHAMPTON, MA — 84 athletes from 11 schools participated and earned medals in this week’s Special Olympics games at Northampton High School Thursday morning. The games included hurtles, hula hooping, long jumping, and a 50 meter dash, set up at different stations around the track. More than 50 Northampton High School student volunteers helped run… [Read More]

HEC Academy students support WRSI’s campout fundraiser for Cancer Connection

Posted on Monday, March 9th, 2015 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Date: 03/09/15

NORTHAMPTON, MA – WRSI’s Monte Belmonte has organized the ninth annual Cancer Connection Campout, being held in Downtown Northampton on the Old Courthouse lawn. Students from HEC Academy in Northampton raised funds and made personal donations to support this Cancer Connection fundraiser, as part of their community service focus. Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) Employee… [Read More]