Information for Students
Welcome to the Special Education Department at Ipswich High School. This web site is designed to help you understand the processes, requirements and resources for special education. This Web site explains things you need to know about this program. It also describes the services and resources available to help you make effective academic progress.
If you are not currently a special education student but are concerned you may have a disability that is affecting your academic progress, you should first speak with your parents and one of your classroom teachers. After speaking with your teachers, they will offer suggestions to address to your concerns or refer you for an evaluation to decide eligibility for special education services.
The special education program is based on the Federal law for special education (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IDEA) and the Massachusetts Special Education Law (MGL c. 71B). These laws protect students with disabilities who are eligible for special education services. The laws and regulations guarantee each student an Individualized Education Program (IEP) designed to meet your unique educational needs.
The Massachusetts law requires that all special education students be educated in the least restrictive environment, have access to all regular education classes and programs, and receive the appropriate accommodations and assistance needed to be successful.
Things You Need to Know 
Special Education Teacher
Each student is assigned to a Special Education Teacher who will be your case manager at the high school. This teacher will work closely with you, your teachers and your parents in monitoring your IEP and the services on your plan. You will be assigned to their support study room. Teaching assistants will also be available to work with you in the support study room. Some students may be assigned to their regular education classes for directed study. This depends on your IEP and what the Team has recommended.
If you have specific therapies, they are usually scheduled during one of the support study times.
Notebook System
You will receive annually a letter from the department recommending important material for you to bring to school on the first day to create your notebook for the year. This material is essential for you to develop good organizational skills. Your special education teacher and the teaching assistants will help you set up your notebook and assignment books in the first week of school.
Note taking and keeping up with your class assignments is essential in high school. Classroom teachers give grades for homework assignments, therefore homework is an important aspect to getting good grades. Homework is your responsibility.
The special education staff is here to assist you in developing the essential skills you need to be successful. Their goal is for you to develop independent skills and identify the help you need.
At Ipswich High School, students are full partners throughout the entire special education process. You know yourself best and have seen yourself in different situations over time.
The Ipswich Special Education Department believes your participation is critical at all meetings pertaining to you. It is important that you understand your learning style, strengths, needs and your own potential. It is also mportant that we hear your voice and understand from your perspective the types of interventions will help you be successful. Most students find the meeting helps clarify their strengths and demystifies their difficulties.
The Program Manager for Special Education will meet with you before the Team meeting to discuss the process and answer any question you may have. If you or your parents want to go over testing results with the Program Manager, a meeting can be scheduled.
Your IEP and the IEP Process 
The Special Education Department works closely with you, your teachers, guidance counselor and parents to ensure you have a successful transition from middle school to high school. You may enter the high school with a current Individual Education plan (IEP) developed by your eighth grade TEAM. They have made recommendation for services and class assignment. If you have any questions about you services or placement, you can ask your special education teacher or the Program Manager.
Course selections are designed to emphasize your strengths and ensures success. Of course, the first planning for transition from high school is for you to pass the MCAS, which is a graduation requirement. We will be making specific recommendations for courses and any accommodations required for your success.
Annual IEP Review Meeting
The goal at Ipswich is to involve you in every aspect of your learning. By your senior year, you can take a leadership role in identifying your own needs and the interventions you require to be successful.
The Team meets at least once a year to review your IEP, to determine progress towards your current IEP goals and objectives, academic and social or emotional progress. It is important you and your parents come prepared to discuss your strengths, visions for the future, and the accommodations and services have been especially helpful to you. This helps the TEAM write a new IEP each year with new goals, accommodations and services that will give you the tools you need to succeed. If there are questions, concerns, or changes in your academic, social, or emotional well-being during the year, the Team will meet to discuss the your concerns and review possible changes to the IEP.
One part of the IEP discussion is transitional planning. We will explore your interests, skills and career goals. Most freshmen do not have a good idea about what they may want to do after high school. We encourage you to meet with your guidance counselors to explore you interests and possible colleges and vocational schools that might fit your unique needs.
Re-evaluation Meeting
Every three years, students are re-evaluated for eligibility for special education. Your parents will receive a consent form for testing. Comprehensive tests and evaluations are employed in the eligibility determination of students, categories of disability and preparing an Individual Education Plan with measurable benchmarks. If you or your parents feel you no longer require special education services, a re-evaluation must be completed before the IEP can be discontinued.
Note: Your parents, or you if you are eighteen, may make a request for a special education evaluation at any time.
All evaluation information is confidential and seen only by teachers and Team members directly involved with you and your parents.
Team Members
The Team includes the Program Manager who chairs the meeting, the student, parents, one or more of the student’s regular education teachers, a special education teacher, the student’s guidance counselor and any professionals who have completed testing. The Ipswich High School Principal and/or the Vice Principal may also attend.
Team Meeting Outcomes
The Team may determine you have a disability but do not require specialized services in order to make effective progress. In this instance, the student is not entitled to special education services. If, however, the Team determines that the student requires accommodations, you the student will be referred to the 504 Accommodations Team chaired by the Vice Principal.
If you are not found eligible for special education, the Team will have significant information on how you learn and will make recommendations to teachers and parents on ways to enhance your learning skills.
If you are found to have a disability and require specialized services to be successful, then you are eligible for special education services; the Team will write an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
It is important that you and your parents understand your specific disability. This helps you ain essential knowledge about your learning style, your individual strengths and the reason for specific interventions the Team will make to help you become an independent learner.
Special Education Services
At Ipswich , we offer special courses that are designed to address the specific disability skills that students require. For example: If a student has organizational difficulties, we offer a Organizational Skills class; for writing, a Writing and Computers class; for reading, a Reading Comprehension class. We also offer an MCAS Preparation class. Some students require more individual reading assistance. Programs like Wilson, Ed-mark, SSR and Linda Mood-Bell are provided individually or small group as specified by the IEP.
Specially Designed Courses
- Small, language-based classes are designed for students who require significant intervention and remedial techniques. All classes follow the Massachusetts State Frameworks.
- Support study is offered four times a week during the directed study time at the high school. Students who have learning disabilities who are in regular classes but require specific skills and techniques meet regularly with the special education teachers and the para-professional staff.
- Small special education class designed to help students with specific disabilities that require intervention in the area of need. (Organizational Skills, Reading Comprehension and Writing)
- MCAS Prep class.
To see a current list of our courses, click here 
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Psychological Services
- Individual and group counseling for students are provided by the school adjustment counselor or the school psychologist. In addition, they may consulting with your outside therapist, physicians and agencies to provide appropriate services and enhance success.
- Behavior management techniques are provided to teachers and parents. Positive behavior intervention through a behavior plan designed to address the students specific behaviors that interfere with their academic and social progress. Individual, weekly meetings are scheduled meetings with the adjustment counselor.
- Social skills group learning is provided by the adjustment counselor for students who have been identified with social skills difficulties.
Transitional Services
The goals of Special Education are to help students become effective independent learners and prepare for post high school careers. We begin in the ninth grade to discuss individual interests, abilities and skills. We work closely with the guidance department in exploring college options and technical training and career opportunities. In addition , we work closely with outside agencies that may be involved with your post education training
School-to-work program and a work-study program are available for students who will benefit from vocational experiences. Students must be passing their major academic classes and have positive attendance records.
Additional Services
Ipswich has on staff a Speech and Language Therapist, Occupation Therapist, Physical Therapist, Vision and Deaf and Hearing Therapist to meet the individual needs of the student.
Assistive technology
Ipswich uses a number of assistive technology tools to support you. These include “Inspiration” a assist with learning and organizational mapping and strategies tool,including the “Kurtzweil reading program”, A program that scans academic material and reads it back to you and, Inspiration, and voice activated computer writing programs. All the teachers and para- professional are trained in the use of these tools.
Age of Majority
Students reach the age of majority at their eighteenth birthday. This means you become responsible for making decisions about your educational services and the IEP. You will have an option to share this responsibility with your parents. The special education office will send you a letter after your seventeenth birthday to discuss this option with you and your parents.
Graduation
Graduation from high school completes eligibility for special education services. This means your entitlement for receiving special education services ends. However, some students may require further accommodation and will be referred for a 504 accommodation plan that can follow them to college.
Overview Presentation
Please click here for the presentation of an overview of the Special Education services and approach. It provides additional detail on all the services that we offer. It is important that you understand the Team process to determine your educational needs and provide the appropriate services required to make effective educational progress.
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