Special Education Services

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Hello and welcome to the Special Education Department. We take our roles in the New Bedford Public Schools very seriously and strive to provide the highest quality educational and therapeutic services to each of our students.

It is critical for all of us to promote integration, ensure equity, and create meaningful educational opportunities for all of our students. It is equally important for us to ensure that every student with a disability completes high school with the skills and resources they need to pursue their post-secondary goals. Our work is centered on our core beliefs and our vision that all students will complete high school life-ready, college-prepared, and/or career-ready for the 21st century. We believe in recognizing the worth of each individual, valuing differences, celebrating the diversity of our student population, and integrating general and special education students for the enrichment of all.

The New Bedford Public Schools provides special education programs and services for approximately 3,000 students with disabilities including approximately from preschool to age 22. Special education and related services provided to these students reflect evidence based instructional practices and are delivered in accordance with legal mandates.

The New Bedford Public Schools houses some of the most specialized programs in the area; including autism, deaf and hard of hearing, medically fragile, comprehensive behavioral intervention and transitional resource programs.

Please contact us if you have any questions! We are here to help you!

Matthew Kravitz
[email protected]

Executive Director for Special Education and Student Services 

Dina Machado
[email protected]

Special Education Instructional Supervisor

Kathleen Mackenzie
kmackenzie
@newbedfordschools.org

Special Education Supervisor of Clinical and Behavioral Services

Paul Bottome
pebottome
@newbedfordschools.org

Special Education Compliance Supervisor

Erin Finnegan
efinnegan
@newbedfordschools.org

District Special Education Content Instructional Leader

Stephen Farrell
sfarrell
@newbedfordschools.org

RISE Academy Supervisor

Elizabeth Camara
ecamara
@newbedfordschools.org

Special Education Compliance Supervisor, NBHS

Mario Pimental
[email protected]

 Special Education Instructional Supervisor, NBHS

SEPAC 

SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

Scheduled SEPAC Meetings for 2022/2023

February TBD, 2023 Hybrid (in person & Zoom)
March 16, 2023 via Zoom
April 25, 2023 in Person at Roosevelt Middle School
May 16, 2023 via Zoom
June TBD, 2023

Zoom:

 

SEPAC Website:  www.newbedfordsepac.com




Benefits of Inclusion for All
Here are some of the reasons to provide opportunities for students with disabilities to learn and interact with their peers without disabilities

Disability Types
What is a Disability? A disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual...(cont'd)

Tiered Focus Monitoring
As one part of its accountability system, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education oversees local compliance with education...(cont'd)