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Special Education

Special Education Services

Special education services and programs range from full inclusion to substantially separate classrooms (within the Scituate Public Schools), to out of district placements.  Services available within the school district include specially designed instruction by certified special education teachers, academic and behavioral support from paraprofessionals,applied behavior analysis (ABA), and related services including speech and language, occupational and/or physical therapy, and counseling.  The school district contracts with agencies to provide additional services such as Teacher of the Deaf, and Teacher of the Visually Impaired. Services are always provided in the least restrictive environment (LRE) where the student can make effective progress.  

Most services are provided within the students’ neighborhood school.  However, when students do not make effective progress, they may be eligible to attend a specialized program that may be located in a different school.  There is a referral process and input from the TEAM prior to considering such a change in placement.  In addition, Scituate Schools provides a tuition-based preschool program for students without disabilities ages 3 to 5 which is available (space permitting) to all residents. Special education preschool students do not pay tuition, per their IEP.

Special Education Programs

  • Early Childhood Center (ECC): Integrated preschool classrooms for students ages 3-5 with and without disabilities

    Early Learning Center (ELC): Substantially separate classroom for students with disabilities 

  • Primary Learning Center (PLC): Substantially separate to partial inclusion program for students K-2 with substantial needs such as autism

    Intermediate Learning Center (ILC): Substantially separate to partial inclusion program for students in grades 3-5 with substantial needs such as autism or intellectual impairments.

  • Language Based Classroom (LBC): A partial inclusion program for students (grades 1 through 5) with language-based learning disabilities

    Jenkins Educating Motivated Students (JEMS): A K-5th grade program for students exhibiting emotional and/or behavioral difficulties. Depending on the level of pull-out services needed, the placement prototype ranges from full inclusion to substantially separate.

  • Language Based Classroom (LBC): Partial inclusion program for 6th-8th grade students with language-based disabilities

    Therapeutic Learning Program (TLP): Program for students in 6th - 8th grade who require additional support due to emotional and/or behavioral difficulties.

    Gates Learning Center (GLC): Substantially separate program for students with autism or intellectual impairments in grade 6-8.

  • Language Based Learning Disabilities (LBLD) Program: Partial inclusion program for students with language-based disabilities who need additional specially designed instruction in core curriculum areas such as ELA and Math.

    i-Excel Program: Substantially separate program for students with autism and/or intellectual impairments which focuses on life skills and vocational skills. There are two classrooms with one for students in grades 9 through 11th or 12th which incorporates remedial and functional academics. The other classroom is geared towards older students (up to age 22) and incorporates supported job internships within the school and Scituate community.

Child Find

The Scituate Public School District is mandated to evaluate students suspected of having a disability who reside in Scituate, including students who attend private schools, young children (ages 3 to 5), and older students who have not yet graduated with a High School diploma. As a parent/guardian, if you are concerned that your student may have a disability and requires specialized instruction and/or related services to make effective progress, you may request an evaluation by sending a letter or email to the relevant staff:

Preschool age: Lisa Perreault

Private or homeschool students: Linda Magee

Grades K to 5: Charleen Flynn 

Grades 6 through 12: Julie McGloin 

Resources For Parents and Guardians of Special Education Students

Special Education Advisory Council (SEPAC) 

Meetings are held remotely approximately once every other month. Parents and guardians of special education students are invited via email

For more information, contact:

Information Regarding Students with Disabilities

(not eligible for an IEP)

Students with disabilities who need accommodations but not specialized instruction may be eligible for a 504 plan. Please know that all students may receive support and interventions based on their individual needs. Please contact the District Guidance Coordinator at 781-545-8759 ext. 11370 or speak to your child’s principal or counselor for more information about a 504 Accommodation Plan.