PACSAL

Parents working in partnership with our schools to ensure quality education for all! 

2025-2026 Theme: Community Engagement

Wondering what the new IEP looks like?  Here is a Blank IEP Form  and here is the link to the DESE New IEP website

Get involved! 

One of the best resources for you and your child(ren) are your schools and other parents/guardians like you. Join us and learn of all the information and support that are available to you. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our children!

Our objectives are:

1. To promote an innovative educational environment where children with special needs have equal access to educational opportunities and a school environment where all children are encouraged to reach their potential.

2. To promote a network for parents of children with special needs and provide a forum to share information and discuss matters of relative interest and concern regarding our children.

3. To collaborate with the school community to provide educational opportunities to parents and school staff that promotes improved educational outcomes for children with special needs.

4. To promote communication and programs within the community to encourage understanding, acceptance and inclusion of children with special needs.

5. To advise and confer with the Director of Special Services and with the School Committee on the operation and development of special service programs.

By-laws

Our PACSAL has grown to not only include children and their families participating in the IEP process, but also those on a 504 plan, and/or those receiving Title I and EL services as well. We are working diligently to bring you presentations and workshops on a myriad of topics and fun community activities.  Please refer to our meeting agendas for details.

You may see PACSAL at school and community activities. So please stop by to talk with us either one on one, at a scheduled meeting, or at a sponsored event to learn about what we can offer you and your child.

Mission Statement

“The mission of the Parents Advisory Council is to enrich and support the opportunities for students with learning differences in their educational and community settings.”

Books and Resources

The Lunenburg PACSAL has donated our library of books and resources to the Lunenburg Public Library.  They are available in a section specifically for Special Needs and Special Education.

Understanding Services for Children & Youth with Special Needs: a flyer with a wealth of resources and information

From the Federation for Children with Special Needs Parents' Rights workshop on 10/20/21: 

This workshop is presented throughout the school year to introduce basic rights and special education law to parents and professionals (link to handouts: Basic Rights' PowerPoint ) . I have included below information, resources, and our Information Center info for any questions that you may have specific to your family. Please feel free to share the following links and information:

• FCSN website: https://fcsn.org/

• Parent Training Information Center (PTIC) Workshop Topics: https://fcsn.org/pti/workshops/

• FCSN Events Calendar: https://fcsn.org/news/#calendar

• FCSN Information Center online intake form: https://fcsn.org/fcsn-intake-form/

• FCSN Information phone number: 617-236-7210 

• Family TIES phone number: 800-905-8437

• Recruitment, Training and Support Center (RTSC): https://fcsn.org/rtsc-updated-brochure/

• FCSN REAL Transition Partners/Link Center: https://fcsn.org/linkcenter/

• We are also hosting multiple 10 minute Livestreams a week on Facebook.

If you have any other questions, please contact me at workshops@fcsn.org.

Best Regards,

Kristin

Kristin LaRose (She/Her/They)

Workshop Coordinator, Parent Training and Information Center

Federation for Children with Special Needs

The Schrafft Center

529 Main Street, Suite 1M3

Boston, MA 02129

Phone: 617-236-7210, ext. 351 |Fax: 617-241-0330

https://fcsn.org/pti/

Email: workshops@fcsn.org

Goals and Objectives

PACSAL PROVIDES RESOURCES AND SUPPORT for parents of children with challenges, including:

Physical Disabilities

Learning Disabilities

ADD/ADHD

Down Syndrome

Autism/Asperger Syndrome

PDD-NOS

Children Receiving Title I Services

Audio Processing

Sensory Impairment

OLD NEWS

6/9/25:

Resources for EL families 

3/4/25:

IEP Forms and Notices (from DESE)

Did you know? - What Parents Need to Know About the New IEP QRG

Do you remember? - Supporting English Learners with the New IEP QRG

IEP Forms (English and Translated) are being revised and moved from Individualized Education Program (IEP) - Special Education to the IEP Improvement Project webpages. Should you be unable to locate a particular form please email SpecialEducation@mass.gov 

2/17/25:  

Press Release for upcoming Integrated Monitoring Review by DESE:

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Lunenburg Public Schools during the week of April 14, 2025. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.  

Lunenburg Public Schools will be undergoing a Group A 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. 

The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, a review of student records, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.

Lunenburg Public Schools will host an orientation about the review process in collaboration with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Corey Steinman, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3742 to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html

1/17/25: Helpful questions for parent-teacher conferences

11/21/24: Workshop

An informative session on "Basic Rights in Special Education" was hosted by the Gardner SEPAC in collaboration with Lunenburg's Special Ed. Department and PACSAL. This presentation helped parents understand their rights and resources. It was an event that was appropriate for parents of students in Special Education, those starting the process, or anyone interested in learning more. 

Notes from the presentation

PowerPoint presentation

New IEP PowerPoint Presentation from 3/14/24 meeting

Fall 2024 Rollout of the New IEP Form 

DESE/DDS Residential Prevention Program 

IEP Accommodations & Strategies  (thanks to Sandy Orni for sharing this great resource for families and IEP teams)