Barrington Public Schools
Empowering All Students to Excel

SPECIAL EDUCATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(SEAC)
​

   
Please join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Public Library:
Along with regular business, we will be discussing the recent external review of Special Education Supports and Services in the District, completed by Futures Education. Kristen Matthes, Director of Pupil Personnel, will be there to participate in the discussion.  

See the presentation to the school committee by Futures Education here. Presentation runs from approximately 24:30 to 1:49:00

​Provide general feedback to SEAC, to help us schedule meetings that meet your needs, by clicking here to take our interest survey.

Midyear report to the School Committee (2018-19)
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​SEAC is a Local Education Committee mandated by the state and run by parent volunteers.  We are committed to serving Barrington families with children who are receiving educational services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Our overall mission is to create an environment within the school district that fosters open communication among parents, teachers, administrators, and the Barrington School Committee regarding special education supports and services provided to eligible students. 

​We meet monthly during the school year, September through May.  Most meetings take place on the second Tuesday of the month, on the second floor of the Barrington Public Library.  All meetings are posted on this website at least one week in advance and announced by email to all families with children receiving special education supports and services.                   
SEAC Leadership Team Members
(2019-20)
Stephanie Hardt Adamek
Janice Antone
Lisa Ottone Silva
Margaret Reid
​[email protected]
​Find us on Facebook! search @BarringtonSEAC

What's New?


SEAC will soon resume facilitation of  family partnerships for those looking to connect with others in town who have gone through the IEP or 504 process.  Please watch for further announcements!
The Barrington Public Library has gotten off to a great start with their new initiative, a Sensory Story Time for all ages and all abilities. 
Do you have a child at Barrington Middle School who would benefit from an inclusive "buddy" program? Inquire at your next IEP about BMS Buddies! 

Congratulations to the 2018-19 winners of the SEAC Special Educator Awards!

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Unified Sports: Bringing People Together

Rhode Island Special Education Regulations Governing SEAC
Subpart I – Rhode Island Specific Regulations Advisory Committees Local Advisory Committee on Special Education 300.900 Local advisory committee on special education (LAC). (a) The school committee of each local educational or regional special education program shall appoint an Advisory Committee on Special Education. The school committee shall approve the bylaws of the advisory committee. (b) Membership: Each local or regional committee shall be composed of persons involved in or concerned with the education of students with disabilities. Parents of students with disabilities shall compose a majority of the committee membership, and at least fifty percent (50%) of this majority shall be selected by the parents of students with disabilities. A regional committee shall reflect an equal distribution of representatives from each of the school districts that comprise the regional program. Membership shall include an individual with a disability, a public school administrator, a special education teacher, a general education teacher and other members of the community at the discretion of the committee and school board. (c) Functions and Responsibilities of the LAC: The committee shall advise the school district or regional program on matters concerning the unmet needs of students with disabilities, comment on improvement plans including school support plans resulting from Part B compliance reports, local compliance with state and federal laws pertaining to the education of students with disabilities, comment on applications for federal and state funds and serve as advocates in partnership with parents for students with disabilities to ensure that they receive the entitlements provided to them under state and federal laws. (d) Duties and Responsibilities of the Local or Regional Agency: The local or regional educational agency shall provide support to the committee by contracting for technical assistance services with the Rhode Island designated Parent Training and Technical Assistance Agency or other community-based non-profit parent organization. Such technical assistance shall include the role of advisory committees in advocating for children, state and federal regulations, community resources, strategic planning and development of an annual report to the school committee. The local or regional educational agency shall also provide school and district improvement plans to the committee for comment and make available appropriate records and data as permitted by law. The public agency shall also support the committee in disseminating information to parents of students regarding the role of the advisory committee, information pertaining to special education and inform the committee of professional development opportunities that are available within the LEA. (e) Conduct of Meetings: The committee shall meet as often as necessary to conduct its business but at least four times annually. Official minutes shall be kept of all committee meetings and be available for public review. All committee meetings and agendas shall be publicly announced prior to any meeting, and meetings shall be open to the public. (f) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses for attending meetings and performing duties. (g) Parent Notification of Local or Regional Advisory Committee: When a child is referred to special education, each school district or regional special education program shall provide the parents with notification of the existence of the Local or Regional Advisory Committee for Special Education established in compliance with these regulations. The notification shall specify that a majority of the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) on Special Education is parents of children with disabilities, and shall inform the parents how the chairperson of the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) for Special Education or the Regional Advisory Committee on Special Education may be contacted.     
​Full regulations
https://risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com/DESE/7377.pdf               
​SEAC Minutes

RIPIN (home) Parent Information Network

Rhode Island Department of Education

RIPIN Workshop & Technical Assistance Catalog

Starting Points for Parents (RIPIN)

Understood.org 
​Excellent information on a variety of disabilities & strategies for school 

CHADD of RI​ ADD/ADHD

Learning Disabilities Association of America

Bradley Hospital Resources for Parents
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​Autism Speaks: Tool Kits
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Autism Project--East Bay

Down Syndrome Society--RI

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association     
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Childhood Apraxia of Speech

RI Office for Children with Special Needs (Services)  Includes link for Katie Beckett Application

RI Office for Children with Special Needs (Information)  

​National Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments  

International Dyslexia Association  

Sensory Processing Disorder in School  

​Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College 

​Dysgraphia 

Rhode Island School for the Deaf 

Please submit requests for added links to [email protected]