WAKEFIELD — Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce that its Nov. 20 virtual professional development session, “IDEA Eligibility: From Identification to Determination,” drew 669 educators, marking the highest attendance ever recorded for an MPY online training.
The session examined how teams determine eligibility under three Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) categories that frequently appear in disputes: emotional disturbances, specific learning disability (SLD), and neurological disability. The training also addressed how evaluators, school teams and courts distinguish between medical diagnoses and educational disabilities.
Michael J. Joyce, Esq., a partner of MacAvoy, Joyce & Kowalski, P.C., led the session.
“I always find Michael Joyce’s presentations to be informative and engaging,” said Marybeth Ebert, Special Education Coordinator at Wakefield High School.
Hearing situational evidence from current cases is particularly beneficial, and his willingness to answer questions from listeners makes his sessions extremely helpful.”
MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels said the strong turnout shows the ongoing need for clear and timely guidance on complex special education matters.
“School districts across Massachusetts continue to work through a wide range of eligibility questions, and this training offered direct and practical support to educators who make these decisions every day,” Daniels said.
About the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality trainings to constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and ideally eliminating risky behaviors for youth. MPY programming reaches nearly 6,000 educators per year in Massachusetts, spread across approximately 300 districts, with more than 190 webinars and over a dozen conferences and seminars.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders who work closely with MPY staff to deliver this mission. To learn more, visit: massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com.
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