In this issue, we mark the 50th Anniversary of the groundbreaking IDEA law. It reminds us of the progress made and the rights asserted all in the service of improving the education and, ultimately, the lives of students with disabilities. Our schools are proud to be part of the continuum of programs, public and private, that collectively serve to meet the needs of these students.
On another note, we are thrilled to welcome Rhiannon McElwee the new Head of School at Lesley Ellis School. Read below to learn more about her and why she has been so enthusiastically received in her new role.
Until next time,
Paul Stein
Executive Director
A Milestone Year for Special Education in Massachusetts
For the seventh consecutive year, Massachusetts has earned the highest possible rating for special education from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education. This achievement affirms the Bay State’s ongoing commitment to students with special needs. The federal assessment evaluates how well states comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as student outcomes and fairness in identifying disabilities.
2025 also marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA, legislation that revolutionized education for students with special needs by guaranteeing them a free and appropriate education. This law encouraged collaboration between parents and educators, leading to significant advancements in services for students with special needs.
Services might include providing in-class curriculum modification, professional support within the context of a learning center, or co-teaching in a fully inclusive classroom. In some cases, students may be referred to an out-of-district placement that can provide intensive support. Therapeutic schools like Schools for Children’s Dearborn Academy in Newton and Seaport Academy in Chelsea offer such programs.
Dearborn Academy serves students in Grades 3-12 who require structured support. Students receive specialized help learning skills needed to overcome challenges that often are the result of anxiety, depression, OCD, executive functioning, language-based, and/or other learning difficulties. Dearborn provides a comprehensive academic program that, in addition to the core subjects, includes woodworking, jewelry, and small metalworks, art, theater, and music. Specialized instruction includes Wilson Reading, speech and language, and occupational therapy. Its therapeutic services combine weekly therapy, clinicians who are embedded in the classroom, and multiple family supports.
Seaport Academy is a therapeutic school for boys in Grades 8–12 that specializes in developing executive function, social skills, and relationship-building for those facing social and emotional challenges. With a small student body of just 28 students, Seaport can offer highly personalized teaching combined with therapeutic supports, including individual and group counseling. The curriculum engages students in academic and elective subjects that are cooperative, hands-on, and activity-based. Seaport also takes full advantage of its unique access to the water and the surrounding urban neighborhoods, integrating them into the learning experience.
Both schools accept applications for admission from local school district referrals throughout the school year. Learn more at www.dearbornacademy.org and www.seaportacademy.org.
In another significant milestone this year, Governor Healey has proposed record funding of $675 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker – a program that partially reimburses school districts for the cost of special education services. This program is used largely to help districts pay tuition for out-of-district placements, as well as transportation to those placements.
As we near the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and we celebrate Massachusetts’s continued commitment and top-tier rating for special education, we take a moment to reflect on advances in special education and consider what lies ahead.
Schools for Children Welcomes Lesley Ellis’s New Head of School, Rhiannon McElwee
Rhiannon McElwee began as head of school at Lesley Ellis on July 1 and welcomed students back earlier this month.
Rhiannon brings years of experience as a teacher, curriculum leader, and administrator. For the past 14 years, she has been at the Stevens Cooperative School in New Jersey, a school akin in philosophy and values to those at Lesley Ellis. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of Glasgow and a Professional Graduate Diploma of Education from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. Rhiannon is uniquely suited to be the next Head of School because of her ability to make genuine connections with students, her teaching expertise, her leadership abilities, and her passion for progressive education.
She exudes a sense of joy and excitement for her work and for Lesley Ellis in particular. She was described by those who work with her as a dynamic and innovative teacher who sets a high bar. She is a big picture thinker who offers fresh perspectives and routinely elevates conversations.
We are thrilled to welcome Rhiannon to the Schools for Children community!
What Are We Looking Forward to in the New Academic Year?
“We have become experts in helping students with school avoidance get back to school, and I am really excited to see students who have missed a lot of school identify as successful and connected students again!”
-Rebecca Altepeter, Head of School, Dearborn Academy
