The Newton Parent Advisory Council (PAC) on Special Education serves as a liaison between parents of students with special needs and school district administrators.  As mandated by Massachusetts law, we provide feedback to the district on special education programs and policies, and participate in their planning and development. 

We offer information to the community on a range of disabilities, resources, remediation approaches, and education issues.  Topics presented at our monthly meetings include parents' rights under special education laws and regulations, effective collaboration with teachers and administrators, and strategies for parenting and teaching children with disabilities. Meetings are open to all parents, teachers, specialists, and others with an interest in education. 

We also run the Newton PAC online discussion group as a forum for parents to exchange information and share suggestions for community resources.  For more information, contact us at info@newtonpac.org. 
 

       

Mary Jean Hughes, EdD, author of The Wolf Who Cried Boy:  The True Story of One Mother's Struggle for Justice for Her Son with Dyslexia, will share her experiences of finding help from her school system for her son with dyslexia. This is a great story of perseverance and advocacy.  Dr. Hughes was the founding Chairperson of the Occupational Therapy Program at Salem State College and is currently the Director of Occupational Therapy at The Massachusetts Hospital School.  
-- please note time change to 7:00 pm -- The meeting is beginning earlier than usual so that we can honor and celebrate Leslie Lockhart for her many years of dedicated leadership of the Newton PAC. At 7:45 pm, following our celebration, Dr. Hughes will speak.