Special Education Services

The Ware Public Schools Special Education Department will destroy the special education records of students born between 6/30/1984 and 7/1/1986.  If you wish to receive these records in whole or in part, please contact the Special Education office no later than 7/1/2011 @ 413-967-7261.

Ms. Mary Birks
Director of Special Education

Photo of Ms. Birks

“A school should not be a preparation for life. A school should be life.”

~Elbert Hubbard

Mary has spent the past twenty-eight years working in schools and school-related organizations in Massachusetts and Vermont. She has worked in both public and private schools, for two state Departments of Education, and for a regional education and business alliance. For much of that time, she worked with students who have disabilities or who are in at-risk situations. Each of these experiences has contributed much to her knowledge, skills and abilities.

Mary received a Masters in Education from Westfield State College and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Trinity College of Vermont. She believes that the best learning occurs when the teaching is rigorous, relevant and relational. All students need to know how to learn, how to solve problems, and how to work with others. Adults model these learning situations for students by working together to improve education for all members of the school community.

Special Education Placement

Special education efficacy studies show that placement outside of general education has little or no positive effect for students, regardless of the type or intensity of the disability. Research reviews document that special needs students educated in general education classes do better academically and socially than comparable students in non-inclusive settings, regardless of the type of disability or grade level.

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

Massachusetts Special Education Regulation 603 CMR 28.07 (4) requires each school district to create a Special Education Parent Advisory Council (PAC). The PAC advises the school district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities and participates in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs.

Membership is open to all parents of eligible students, as well as other interested parties. We welcome and encourage your input. It is essential to improving our programming. For further information on the PAC, contact Mary Birks, Director of Special Education, (413) 967-7261.

Click on the links below to download each document.


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