A Special Education Teacher, Administrator and Lawyer walk into a bar....all you ever wanted to know about special education

Listen in as Robin, Angela and Abby discuss Massachusetts' new Out of District Placement monitoring process and form. 

Here is a link to the newly shared form (September 2025) from the MADESE if you want to follow along.

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Listen in as Robin and Abby discuss common misconceptions about classroom  management and behavioral support. These great ideas are based on a recent Eduptopia article "7 Classroom management mistakes and the research on how to fix them" which can be found  HERE.

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Starting this September, Massachusetts has changed how it calculates the required days for the provision of an IEP. Join Abby, Robin and Angela as they discuss the recent changes to the 30/45 and annual IEP timelines. 

Special Education Policy Memo SY2024-2025 — 6

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Join Robin, Abby and Angela as they discuss the importance of Class Jobs! Here are some traditional and unique ideas from this Edutopia Article.

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The IDEA requires that specially designed instruction be informed by research based methodologies. 

(E) supporting high-quality, intensive preservice preparation and professional development for all personnel who work with children with disabilities in order to ensure that such personnel have the skills and knowledge necessary to improve the academic achievement and functional performance of children with disabilities, including the use of scientifically based instructional practices, to the maximum extent possible; (Section 1400)

and 

Section 1414: Evaluations, Reevaluations, IEPs

Congress added new language to the definition of IEPs in Section 1414(d). IEPs must include "a statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research . . ."

This week Abby, Angela and Robin discuss research based strategies to support students struggling with elementary math using a practice guide summarizing research based strategies that are proven to have a positive impact.

Here is the article

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Join Robin and Angela as they discuss the importance of the school handbook! 

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Welcome to Season 6! Join Abby, Angela and Robin as they kick off season 6 by celebrating the upcoming 50th birthday of the IDEA (Nov. 2025!) 

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Happy summer and best wishes to those teachers/families who are currently returning to school! Robin, Abby and Angela come together for a summer episode focusing on graduation guidance for students in MA on IEPs. 

MA DESE Graduation and Transition Memo- July 2025

Age of Majority info. (CMR 603.28.07 #5)

Lots to discuss on this important topic and we hope to continue the discussion with Kelley on the pod this fall.

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29 episodes later, this is the last episode of Season 5! Listen up as we preview some topics we're thinking about and share some summer updates. Thanks for being such loyal listeners. Have a wonderful wrap up to your school year and we'll be back in the fall for Season 6.

Robin, Abby and Angela

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Listen in as Robin and Abby discuss the recent appointment of the new OSEP Director.

Here is the company that designs products to help feel more grounded and in control (Calmware).

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