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Student Support Services Department

DESE/DDS Residential Prevention Program

The DESE/DDS Residential Prevention Program is a collaboration between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) for DDS-eligible students who are at risk of a future residential placement. 

The program provides students and their families:

  • The chance to have in-home supports including senior level therapists and skills trainers

  • A dedicated navigator agency to identify and hire staff

  • Life-long skills development

  • Opportunities to practice skills in their home setting and community

This Open Interest period is offered to refresh the list of interested students and families. The DESE/DDS Residential Prevention Program is near capacity; however, new participants are added from the Interest List as spaces become available.

The DESE/DDS Residential Prevention Program has moved to an online submission process. Please complete the online Open Interest Form here.

If you choose to use the paper Family Letter and Open Interest Form 2025, it must be downloaded, saved, and emailed to DESEDDSProgram@mass.gov 

All Open Interest Forms must be postmarked, received by email, or filled out in the online form by March 31, 2025.

 Family Letter and Open Interest Form 2025 (English)

 Family Letter and Open Interest Form 2025 (Arabic)

 Family Letter and Open Interest Form 2025 (Portuguese)

Family Letter and Open Interest Form 2025 (Haitian Creole)

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Parent/Professional Advocacy League Offers Workshops & Support Groups

Parent/Professional Advocacy League is a statewide, grassroots family organization that advocates for improved access to mental health services for children, youth and their families. PPAL’s goals are to support families, nurture parent leaders and work for systems change. Visit the PPAL website for more information on events, support groups and resources.

Open Sky Community Services
Visit Open Sky to access resources addressing a variety of topics. Visit their website for more information.

Special Education
Special education services throughout the district address the needs of identified learners with disabilities between the ages of three and twenty-two, who require specialized instruction to support access to the curriculum. A wide range of services are provided to meet the individual needs of students, from academic intervention to related services in areas such as counseling, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Availability of therapeutic services for students requiring special education intervention in the realm of social, emotional and adjustment areas is present at all schools and levels.

The Mendon-Upton Regional School District recognizes the importance of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) outlined in the IDEA and substantiated by decades of research that show that the more normative the environment the better the outcomes for children. Strong collaboration with regular education staff provides services to students in the most inclusive manner which benefits all students within the class setting. By providing consultation, collaboration and professional development opportunities to regular and special education staff across the district, it allows for joint efforts in the provision of special education services in the most appropriate inclusive setting.

Staff works closely with families in assuring the services needed are identified and provided to students in accordance with applicable mandates. In addition, the Mendon-Upton Regional School District’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) meets regularly across the context of the school year. SEPAC meetings provide a forum for parents to share relevant information and create a network of support. SEPAC contact information and meeting schedule can be found on the district’s website.

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District Contacts

Jennifer D'Angelo
Director of Student Support Services
jdangelo@mursd.org
(508) 634-1581

Meagan Brazil-Sheehan
Nipmuc High School
mbrazilsheehan@mursd.org
(508) 529-2135

Lauren Pokornicki
Miscoe Hill Middle School
lpokornicki@mursd.org
(508) 634-1592

Amy Curry
HP Clough Elementary School
acurry@mursd.org
(508) 634-1580

Cara Demoga
Memorial Elementary School
cdemoga@mursd.org
(508) 529-1020

Programs and Services

Special education programs and services in the Mendon-Upton Regional School District are designed to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities in the least restrictive setting. The Mendon-Upton Regional School District offers several programs to meet the needs of students with disabilities and provides related services both within and outside the general education classroom. The professional staff that delivers special education services are certified and trained to work with a wide range of students with specific disabilities. When the nature and/or severity of the student’s disability is such that the neighborhood school programs/services would not meet the student’s needs, consideration is given to district-wide programs, and then to collaborative and out-of-district placements.

Through IEP team meetings, families and school staff participate in determining and making all decisions regarding special education services.

Early Education Program

The Mendon-Upton Regional School District offers an Integrated Early Education Program that provides a structured learning environment for children both with and without disabilities. The Integrated Early Education Program provides identification, educational and support services for preschool age children. The curriculum provides developmentally appropriate instruction for young learners including cross-curricular activities, focus on socio-emotional development, and preparation for kindergarten and beyond. Children with disabilities are provided additional support and specialized instruction as directed by their Individualized Education Programs. A comprehensive range of services is provided by the Early Education staff as well as related service providers including speech language therapist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist as needed in an integrated service learning approach. The district works collaboratively with early intervention programs to ensure eligible students are ready to receive specialized instruction and/or related services starting on their third birthday.

For questions regarding our Early Education Program please contact Jennifer D'Angelo, Director of Student Support Services, or visit our Early Education page.

Community Resources

Riverside Community Care
Outpatient Centers offer comprehensive mental health services.

Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)

Applied Behavior Institute
Provide direct services center-based, in home, and in the community depending on the needs of the child.

Beacon ABA Services
Provide intensive behavioral services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

List of ABA Providers

The Autism Insurance Resource Center

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Child Find Notice

It is the responsibility of the Mendon-Upton Regional School District to identify any child who is a resident of Mendon or Upton who may have a disability, regardless of the severity of the disability. It is also the responsibility of the Mendon-Upton Regional School District to evaluate those students to determine if they are eligible for special education or related services under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) or 603 CMR 28 (Massachusetts Special Education Regulations).

The Mendon-Upton Regional School District is committed to identifying children before their third birthday in order to provide early intervention services for three and four year-olds. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s development and would like to have him/her screened, please contact Jackie Wheelock, Early Education Coordinator, for an appointment at jwheelock@mursd.org.

If you suspect that your child, at any age, may need an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services, you may request an evaluation, at no cost, at your child’s school. Please contact the Team Chairperson at your child’s school for information about referring your child for an evaluation. Contact information for each school is listed below:

HP Clough Elementary - Amy Curry
Memorial Elementary - Cara Demoga
Miscoe Hill Middle School - Lauren Pokornicki
Nipmuc Regional High School - Meagan Brazil-Sheehan

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General education and special education differ in significant ways:

Special education means specially designed instruction to meet the individual needs of the eligible student and/or related services necessary for the eligible student to access the general curriculum. General education offers universally designed curricula and/or academic, behavioral, and social emotional learning (SEL) supports to all students, and then allows for selection from a common set of interventions to help students who experience difficulty.

In contrast, special education individualizes based on each student's needs as determined through the evaluation process. This individualization means that special education designs an individualized educational program based on a student’s specific disability-related needs. Special education’s tailoring to an individual student’s disability-related needs begins with the referral process and continues through the delivery of specific services, as determined through the evaluation and IEP process.

All students, including those with disabilities, are general education students.

This means that students with disabilities are held to the same high standards as students without disabilities. Students with disabilities, like all students, receive instruction aligned with the MA Curriculum Frameworks (the explicit curriculum). Additionally, they learn norms and values through participation in the school community (the implicit curriculum).


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