HELPFUL LINKS
Chelsea Public Schools
http://www.chelseaschools.com/
Chelsea High School 2007 -2008 Student and Parent Handbook
http://chs.chelseaschools.com/chs/uploads/documents/parents/student_handbook_07_08.pdf
http://www.chelseaschools.com/superintendent/school_policies.asp
Revere Public Schools
Revere School 2007 -2008 Student and Parent Handbook
http://www.revereps.mec.edu/Schools/RHS_SITE/policy.html
Winthrop Public Schools
http://www.winthrop.k12.ma.us/
Winthrop High School 2007 -2008 Student and Parent Handbook
http://www.winthrop.k12.ma.us/whs/pdfs/Handbook_WHS.pdf
Winthrop High Dress Code
http://www.winthrop.k12.ma.us/images/SuperDocs/HS%20STUDENT%20DRESS%20CODE.pdf
Winthrop High School Attendence Policy
http://www.winthrop.k12.ma.us/images/SuperDocs/HS%20ATTENDANCE%20POLICY.pdf
Winthrop Middle School 2007 -2008 Student and Parent Handbook
http://www.winthrop.k12.ma.us/wms/pdf/Handbook%2007%20-%2008.pdf
Arthur T. Cummings School 2007-2008 Student and Parent Handbook
http://www.winthrop.k12.ma.us/Center/ATChanbook.html
Gorman Fort Banks School Student Arrival/Dismissal Protocol
http://www.winthrop.k12.ma.us/fortbanks/news_you_can_use.htm
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/discipline/AOSD1.html
Transition Planning
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/688/brochure.pdf
MCAS
The Massachusetts Department of Education web link to all the regulations and test schedules surrounding MCAS within the state.
No Child Left Behind
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml
A comprehensive United States Department of Education webpage on this federal law.
A Parent's Guide to Special Education
http://www.fcsn.org/parentguide/pgintro.html
Written collaboratively by the Federation for Children with Special Needs and the Department of Education, "A Parent's Guide to Special Education" was developed to serve as a resource for parents and the organizations that serve them.
A Parent's Guide to Selecting A Special Education Advocate in Massachusetts
http://fcsn.org/pti/advocacy/advocacy_brochure.pdf
Written collaboratively by the Federation for Children with Special Needs and the Department of Education, "A Parent's Guide to Selecting A Special Education Advocate in Massachusetts" was developed to assist parents in choosing an advocate in the Special Education process when needed.
Notice of Procedural Safeguards (Parent's Rights Brochure)
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/
English and Translated Versions
The Parent's Rights Brochure is designed to assist the parent in understanding the special education process, and the rights of the parent's when their child has been referred for or is receiving special education services.
Parent's Rights in Special Education
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/2001/paccurricm.pps
This training consisting of a PowerPoint Presentation and Presentation Handouts, has been prepared to assist districts and their Parent Advisory Councils for Special Education to meet the state requirement of an annual workshop on the rights of students and parents or guardians in relation to state and federal special education laws.
Disability Definitions and Related Links
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/definitions.html
Definitions of each of the Massachusetts disability categories, and resources for each disability.
Best Practices in Early Childhood Transition
http://www.eec.state.ma.us/docs/EECTransitionGuideForWeb(3).pdf
Written collaboratively by the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Education, "Best Practices in Early Childhood Transition" was developed to serve as a guide for families as their children transition from Early Intervention Services into a preschool program.
IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and American with Disabilities Act
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Including/chapter3.html
This is a publication for parents explaining the differences between IDEA, Section 504 and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). This site helps parents to find services and supports as identified under the law.
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/links/sec504.html
This website provides information about the differences in these two pieces of legislations and the rights and protections of students with disabilities.
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/links/sec504.html
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education is providing the information in this pamphlet to explain the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend postsecondary schools.
Program Quality Assurance (PQA)
The Massachusetts Department of Education may be contacted regarding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act concerning rights of covered students, ages 3-22, through its complaint management programs administered by the Program Quality Assurance (PQA) Unit.
United States, Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html?src=mr
The federal government has general responsibility for overseeing compliance (technical assistance and enforcement) of Section 504 and the ADA.
Arc Massachusetts is a statewide volunteer educational and advocacy organization dedicated to helping individuals with specific developmental disabilities.
http://www.massfamilyties.org/
Family TIES of Massachusetts is a statewide information and parent-to-parent support project for families of children with special needs and chronic illness.
Federation for Children with Specials Needs
The Federation is a center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families.
Directory and Profiles
The Parent Professional Advocacy League (PAL)
PAL is the statewide chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. PAL provides support, education, and advocacy around issues related to children's mental health.
Considering Your Child's Need for Assistive Technology
http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/technology/bowzer_reed.html
LD Online describes IDEA's requirement to consider the need for assistive technology in all IEPs and offers common uses of assistive technology for students with learning disabilities.
Assistive Technology Evaluation Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities Guide
http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/technology/evaluation.pdf
LD Online offer several tools to assist with the evaluation process: a form listing areas to be considered, a list of critical questions for consideration, plus a quick guide to No Tech/Low Tech/High Tech materials, equipment and technology tools.
http://www.disabilityinfo.org/
New England INDEX, a project of the UMass Medical School located at the Shriver Center, provides information about programs and agencies, physicians, dentists, and consultants that serve people with disabilities. INDEX also coordinates the Mass Network of Information Providers (MNIP), a multi-agency collaboration that provides telephone information and referral at over 50 sites across the state (800-642-0249).
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/sped/projects/ose/resources/
Special Education Resources from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia
Comprehensive Health
Kids Health
The Nemours Foundation, comprehensive health education information compiled especially for parents, children, or teens.
About Our Kids
New York University Child Study Center website providing parenting tips and information about normal child development and mental health.
Talk Listen
Boston Public Health Commission, behavioral health information including stress, drugs and alcohol, family violence, violence behavior, dating violence, sex and sexual orientation, depression, eating disorders, rape, suicide, how to talk about it, how to take care of yourself. This site is for teens and parents, and also provides a parent’s guide to services.
Addictions
The Anti Drug
Office of National Drug Control Policy, National Youth Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign website for parents about alcohol and drug prevention.
Free Vibe
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign website for youth, educational information on drugs and alcohol.
Substance Abuse
MA Statewide Substance Abuse Information and Referral Helpline. Search this easy to use, online database of all publically funded substance abuse treatment and support services in Massachusetts.
Join Together
Join Together, information and advocacy about substance abuse and gun violence, search for treatment and self-help resources in your area.
Al-Anon/Alateen
The Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope, in order to solve their common problems. Visit this site to find a listing of local meetings.
National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, free publications, fact sheets and guides on mental health, alcohol and other drugs.
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ The National Institutes of Drug Abuse (NIDA) website for teens. The science behind drugs, facts for parents and teens about drug abuse, real stories and more.
Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling www.masscompulsivegambling.org
Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, offers information and referrals to anyone having problems associated with gambling.
Gangs
GRIPE
Gang Reduction through Intervention, Prevention, & Education (GRIPE), National Youth Gang Center, Office for Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention (OJJDP). Information on gang history, myths, FAQs, school violence, and more.
Legal Aid
Massachusetts Legal Help
Massachusetts Legal Help, lists all legal aid agencies in the state by county, provides basic legal information.
General Mental Health
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Massachusetts Chapter (NAMI-Mass), Family to family education and support programs, information on mental illness and advocacy.
National Mental Health Awareness Campaign
National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, information for parents and youth.
National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration www.samhsagov
National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, free publications, fact sheets and guides on mental health, alcohol and other drugs.
www.talklisten.org (See comprehensive health above)
Sexual Health
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, resources and information on medical services such as birth control and emergency contraception.
www.talklisten.org (see comprehensive health above)
Planned Parenthood Federation of
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, information for teenagers about sexual health.
Sex Etc
Sex Etc., website made by teens for teens about sexual health, pregnancy, parenting and more.
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia and compulsive over- eating) information, support, and treatment listings
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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project, suicide prevention site for queer and questioning teens.
Violence & Abuse
Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence www.janedoe.org
Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, information on domestic violence and sexual assault programs, extensive listing of legal and other resources.
See It and Stop It
Website created by teens in Massachusetts to help prevent relationship violence, information on identifying and stopping abusive and violent relationships, downloadable toolkit and materials