Student Services

Special Education services are offered to Holliston students in accordance with 603 CMR 28.00 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Student Services Administrator works with the classroom teacher, specialists and parents to ensure that, when appropriate, referrals are made to assess a student's eligibility for special education support services.

Anonymous Tip Form

Child Find

In accordance with Federal Law, IDEA, and Massachusetts Law 603 CMR28.00 Special Education, the Holliston Public Schools provides special education programs designed to meet the needs of children who are attending not only public schools but also those who are attending private schools at private expense and whose parents reside in Holliston.

Holliston works to provide all children with an opportunity to participate in public school programs. Holliston Public Schools uses a continuous and systematic effort to identify children in need of special education services, which is outlined below.

Through Child Find, Holliston Public Schools will arrange for the provision and evaluation of those ages 16 through 21 who have not graduated from high school and who are not attending school or children ages 3 through 21 who are unable to progress effectively in a regular program due to a suspected disability consisting of a developmental delay or an intellectual, sensory, neurological, emotional, communication, physical, specific learning or health impairment or combination thereof. All programs and services are offered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.

To begin this process, please contact the Director of Student Services via the phone number or email address below. From there, consent will be generated to evaluate your child, a signature will be required from a parent/guardian. From the date of consent, the district will have 30 school days to complete the evaluation and 45 days from the date of consent to schedule a meeting, review the testing, and determine eligibility. For more information please contact the Office of Student Services at (508) 429-0662 or beattiej@holliston.k12.ma.us

Procedural Safeguards

Procedural Safeguards (PNPS)

Under IDEA 2004 school districts must give this PNPS once per year to all parents of eligible students with disabilities. The Department recommends that school districts identify a specific date each school year when the parents of every eligible student enrolled in the district, including those in out-of-district placements, will be sent a copy of the PNPS. Districts may distribute the PNPS by mail or, if the district makes information available electronically, the parent may choose that option.

The Holliston Public Schools provides the PNPS to all families of Special Education students at the start of each year via email, and it is available in all Student Services Offices in each building, as well as found below on our website.

Parent Procedural Safeguards (updated Nov 2023)

The changes incorporated into the English version above are available in the language links listed below. If you need another language please contact the Director of Student Services at (508) 429-0662 or beattiej@holliston.k12.ma.us

HPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan

Massachusetts state law requires all school districts, charter schools, non-public schools, approved private special education day or residential schools, and collaborative schools to develop and adopt bullying prevention and intervention plans. Plans must meet the requirements of the law and should follow local policies and procedures. Districts and schools must develop the Plan in consultation with teachers, school staff, professional support personnel, school volunteers, administrators, community representatives, local law enforcement agencies, students, and parents or guardians.

Below you will find a link to the Holliston Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan. If you have questions please reach out to the Director of Student Services at (508) 429-0662 or beattiej@holliston.k12.ma.us

HPS Bullying Prevention & Intervention Plan

Title IX

The Holliston Public Schools, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in admission and employment.

Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to Holliston Public Schools Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. The contact information for the Office of Civil Rights:

U.S. Department of Education

Office for Civil Rights

Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-1100

Telephone: 800-421-3481

FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339

Email: OCR@ed.gov

The contact information for the Holliston Public Schools Title IX Coordinator is:

Ms. Jessica Beattie, Director of Student Services

370 Hollis Street

Holliston, MA 01746

beattiej@holliston.k12.ma.us

(508) 429-0662

Holliston Public Schools nondiscrimination policy and grievance can be found in the link below. To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX please refer to the resource below or contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Title IX Grievance Procedures and Process

HPS Student Services Family Guide

The office of Student Services in collaboration with SEPAC worked to create a comprehensive, user-friendly guide to understanding services and resources that the Holliston Public Schools provides. We hope that you find this guide helpful as you navigate your student (s) educational journey through HPS. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the Director of Student Services at (508) 429-0662 or beattiej@holliston.k12.ma.us

HPS Student Services Family Guide

PowerSchool Special Programs

PowerSchool/Special Programs Please use the following description and delete all other information under that tab:
- PowerSchool is our Student Management System that houses all student information to include; grades, attendance, health information, demographics, and discipline data. For elementary families, you will now be able to access your child’s ROSP-Report of Student Progress. Additionally, if your student requires a 504, IEP, or ELL documentation, you will also have access to the Special Programs platform through this one-sign-in feature.

The Special Programs Parent Portal will provide you with an inbox that houses the following documents specific to your child and all documents can be translated as well as printed.

IEPs (Individual Education Plan)
- Invitations
- Attendance Sheets
- IEPs
- Evaluations
- Progress Reports
504s
- Invitations
- Attendance Sheets
- 504s
- Evaluations

To access your account please use the following link. If you have any issues reach out to Jodirene Harrington at harringtonj@holliston.k12.ma.us.us or Michelle LeMay at lemaym@holiston.k12.ma.us

https://holliston.powerschool.com/public/home.html

To streamline access to all pertinent documents and information for families, we have created a “live” link HPS Family Resource Hub.
- HPS Family ResourcesHUB

The Office of Student Services has put together for the 24-25 school year another information-packed FamilyEd Series. All presentations are held via Zoom and are recorded for those who cannot attend. Please find the schedule of events in the link below, as well as previously recorded presentations.
- HPS FamilyEd Presentation Guide (24-25)

Previously Recorded FamilyEd Presentations accessible for your viewing
- HPS FamilyEd Presentation Guide (23-24)