Question: I know that the IEP team is required to meet within ten days of receiving an outside evaluation, but what days count? I think it is school days, but what about half-days or professional development days?
Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) Overcoming Together Annual Event
Wong & Boscarine are proud to be early sponsors of the Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) Overcoming Together annual event. MAC is a nonprofit children's advocacy organization that works with students, families, communities, and at the policy level to remove barriers to education for children across Massachusetts.
Homeschooling, IEPs, and Education Law in Massachusetts: 5 Things You Should Know
Back-to-school season is upon us, but this year is unlike any other. Due to concerns about health, safety, and the effectiveness of remote, hybrid, and socially distanced learning, many more parents are considering homeschooling. Before you make that decision, here are five things you should know about homeschool and special education law in Massachusetts:
FAPE During School Closures
The special education landscape has changed dramatically in the past few weeks due to COVID-19 related closures. At first, state and federal agencies were asserting that schools need not provide any special education services if they did not provide any educational services at all to any student. This position was flawed and frankly wrong. In response, we joined with civil rights advocates from across the country to ensure students’ rights to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). As part of these efforts, we joined with other leaders and submitted this letter to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). A few days later we spoke directly with the Education Commissioner and explained even in these challenging circumstances the right to a FAPE is remains.
2019 BSEA Decisions
At Wong & Boscarine LLC, we consistently monitor, review, and analyze Bureau of Special Education Appeals (“BSEA”) decisions in an effort to provide our clients informed and strategic legal advice. While the vast majority (above 90%) of BSEA disputes resolve without the need for a hearing, the remaining cases require a written determination by an impartial hearing officer.
Attorney Wong and Nashoba Family Prevail at BSEA
On December 6 2019, the Bureau of Special Education Appeals ("BSEA") ruled that the Nashoba Regional School District ("Nashoba") had violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") by failing to offer a twelve-year-old boy with a complex profile an Individualized Education Plan ("IEP") that provided a Free Appropriate Public Education ("FAPE"). The BSEA ordered Nashoba to reimburse the family for their costs of unilaterally placing their son at the Learning Prep School.
U.S. Department of Education Answers Questions About FAPE
On December 7, 2017, the United States Department of Education ("U.S. DOE") published a document aiming to help parents and other stakeholders better understand the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, 137 S. Ct. 988.
MAC Celebrating Voices Annual Event
On October 30, 2018, advocates for Massachusetts children with special needs gathered at Harvard Law School for Massachusetts Advocates for Children's annual event. The Law Office of Lillian E. Wong, LLC was an early sponsor of the event.
Lillian Wong Named 2018 Super Lawyer Rising Star
Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. No lawyer pays to be selected to the list.
