Chapter 766 MAAPS MA Hospital Schools UNDERSTANDING THE

Chapter 766, MAAPS, & MA Hospital Schools UNDERSTANDING THE OPTIONS

Topics Covered Chapter 766 Law Chapter 766 Schools Massachusetts Hospital Schools MAAPS

Chapter 766 Law M. G. L. c. 71(b). Ø Find and evaluate children with special needs and problems Ø Develop individual programs for each child with special needs Ø Provide the required services for children with special needs within the school system, if possible. If not, then the services will be provided by another institution or special program. Ø Passed in 1972 (effective 1974) Ø Implementation of IEP (focused on individual needs vs. labels) Ø Encouragement of inclusion Ø Guaranteed rights of parents in decision making process for services & placement

Requirements for Outplacement The department shall determine the nature and extent of a child’s disability, and shall require the local school committee to prepare and submit plans detailing the time needed to establish facilities adequate for children with a disability in the city, town or school district where the child resides, and shall ascertain whether adequate facilities and instruction programs are available or when adequate facilities can be made available in the city, town or school district where the child with a disability resides. Until adequate facilities can be made available, such child shall be placed in the most adequate program available as determined by the department. Curriculum at alternative placement must be appropriate for child's needs and approved by regulations under DESE, DPH, DMH, and DDS Preference is given to schools within child’s home town unless no qualified program exists

Who Gets Referred? Students with at risk community/school behaviors (running, property destruction, aggression, criminal behaviors, substance abuse, etc. ) Students with involved learning disabilities that are not able to be accommodated in the public school Behavioral (disruptive, defiant, and frequent unmanageable outbursts) Chronic school refusal issues Accommodations and supports are not available in district for child

Referral Process After determining that the child needs an out of district placement; Funding agency sends referral packet to prospective outplacement Outplacement reviews referral for appropriateness Appropriateness established then the family is invited out for a tour of campus Interview with day treatment director and clinician Decision made and communicated to funding agency and parents Child is placed at the program once IEP and funding has been confirmed

Costs and Cost Shares Tuition for outplacement is funded by the public school in the district that the child resides in If the child’s parents are divorced or separated a cost share between programmatic and fiscal responsibility is established (April 1 st Cutoff) Residential programs typically involve a cost share between Dept. of Mental Health (DMH) & Public School or Dept. of Children and Families (DCF) and Public School Public schools have fully funded residential placements in the past Private pay options are available for parents provided they can afford the steep tuition

RESIDENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES 2013 70% 67% 60% 50% 40% 30% 22% 20% 11% 10% 0% Public Schools DCF/DMH Cost Share

Age Admitted From 89% 90% 67% 70% 80% 60% 70% 50% 60% 50% 40% 33% 30% 11% 20% 10% 0% 5 -10 10 -14 14 -18 18+ Home Hospital Res/Ed

Chapter 766 Schools Doctor Franklin Perkins School Willow Hill Cotting School Dearborn Devereaux Milestones Gifford Carroll School Clearway Eagleton School Learning Prep Granite Academy Victor School Italian Home for Children

Special Education School Requirements DESE requires justification for need of such a program and may establish standards for approval eligibility including minimum or maximum size of the program Required information includes; 1. demonstration of need for the program, 2. population served, 3. anticipated special education and related services provided, 4. legal and financial stability of program, 5. safety and appropriateness of physical plant for student population, 6. documentation of qualified staff, procedures detailing how school will provide special education services

Private Special Education School Program Requirements Cont’d Must be approved by Department of Education in accordance with MA regulations 603 CMR 28. 09 and 603 CMR 18. 00 Upon approval, private special education schools are able to enroll publicly funded Massachusetts eligible students

Educational Program Requirements Shall meet or exceed the student learning time requirements for public school students set forth at 603 CMR 27. 00 and meet individual requirements of IEP All teaching staff must have an understanding and knowledge of the general curriculum expectations and learning standards of MA Curriculum Frameworks and be licensed appropriate to meet the needs of the student population served Ensure that there are flexible procedures and mechanisms that maximize opportunities for enrolled students to gain the capacity to return to the less restrictive setting Policies and procedures in place for students to take mandated state assessments At least one staff member must be designated as the educational administrator for the program At least half of the teaching staff shall be licensed in special education areas appropriate to the population served at the school Shall have a written plan for staff orientation and training – consistent with the needs of the students Approved special education schools shall provide the facilities, textbooks, equipment, technology, materials, and supplies needed to provide special education and related services specified on IEP

Doctor Franklin Perkins School Spotlight

Perkins School “A Chance to Blossom” 90 Day Students, 45 Residential Driven by referral Serves a wide range of social, emotional, and behavioral needs Day Cost $59, 000 a year Residential Cost $190, 000 a year Services driven by IEP Small class sizes Differentiated instruction Supported learning environment Coed facilities Residential and Day Placement Weekly Therapy for Child and Family Adheres to Common Core Standards & MA Curriculum Frameworks

Net Assets 2. 50% 2. 00% 8. 90% Local Educational Agencies 9. 80% DDS/DMH Third Party Payers DCF 9. 90% 66. 90% Grants & fundraising Other

MAAPS Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools

What is MAAPS? Membership association of 87 DESE approved private special education schools Committed to excellence and ethical integrity Legislative Advocate Marketing Resource Professional Development Leadership Opportunities Cost Saving Programs “The Massachusetts Association of Chapter 766 Approved Private Schools’ mission is to represent private special education schools in their goal of providing the highest quality education to students with special needs. ”

Information Up to date news and regulation changes pertaining to private special education news Maaps news bulletin – provides updates on pertinent changes in special education community Member Advisories and Alerts (Action Alerts) Parent resources (program checklist handout) Parent Tips & Trainings

Advocacy Provides legislative advocacy to members Advocate for an increase in funding for special education, file and advocate for bills that will help our member schools and testify at hearings Works to educate legislators, and the public about C. 766 Schools and to keep them abreast of legislative and budget issues pertaining to C 766 Brings legislators to our member schools so that they can see first-hand the great work that our members do on behalf of the states most challenged children.

Marketing Publishes a maaps Directory of Member Schools and Related Services. This directory lists detailed information on the programs members offer and the populations they serve along with other related services. This invaluable source of information is mailed to every special education administrator and placement office in the Commonwealth and is available for parents and other individuals at their office.

Professional Development Conducts many workshops, seminars and conferences each year. Sponsors Annual Conference which is a-day long educational program with a wide range of workshops on current topics, practices and technologies that meet the professional development needs of special education administrators, teachers, social workers, and direct care staff. Opportunities to earn Professional Development Points Resources on evidence-based practices

MA Hospital School Canton, MA “FUN IS THE WORK OF CHILDREN”

Mission Statement “The mission of The Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) is to provide medical, habilitative, recreational, educational and vocational services to children and young adults with multiple disabilities, assisting them to achieve their maximum level of independence in all aspects of life. ”

Snapshot Ages 6 – 22 Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders, Myelodysplasia, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, and congenital or acquired physically debilitating disorders. Comorbid disorders of anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders Community based recreational programs Day and Inpatient Programs Operated by the Department of Public Health Admission is determined by Department of Public Health admissions committee based on medical eligibility

Programming Aquatics Equestrian Medical & Nursing Recreation Rehab Engineering & Therapies Summer Day Program Brayton School

Brayton School Located on hospital grounds 5 days a week, 180 days a year Adheres to students IEP Offers educational services under SEIS (Education In Institutional Settings) based on a patient’s/student’s IEP Certified teachers, computer specialists, functional life skill instructors, creative arts specialists, and instructional aides provide the education program. Services listed on the IEP that are not available at the Brayton School remain the responsibility of the LEA. Therapy services for a patient/student are provided by MHS as recommended in the patient’s/student’s Plan of Care that is developed by his/her interdisciplinary team.

Resources www. mass. doe www. maaps. org www. perkinschool. org http: //www. mass. gov/eohhs/gov/laws-regs/mcb/mass-chapter-766. html http: //www. massadvocates. org/history. php http: //www. 766 faces. com/? page_id=2 http: //www. malegislature. gov/Laws/General. Laws/Part. I/Title. XII/Chapter 71 b