Campaign Overview
Welcome to the SEPAC "Fund our IEPs" campaign. As Somerville Public Schools (SPS) builds its budget for the 2026-2027 school year (FY27), we are standing firm on the principles of Disability Justice and Inclusive Education.
A budget is a map of values expressed through staffing and resource allocation.
For students with disabilities, education is a legal and civil right. We are demanding a budget that removes the barriers currently preventing our students from accessing their full potential. Compliance and fully funded IEPs are not a privilege—this is the baseline of a just and equitable school system.
Fund our IEPs!
LIVED EXPERIENCE. COLLECTIVE POWER. EQUITABLE EDUCATION.
SOMERVILLE SEPAC BUDGET ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN
Sign the Fund Our IEPs letter
The Somerville SEPAC has launched a sign-on letter urging city and school leaders to prioritize the staffing, services, and supports our students and schools need in the FY27 budget.
Signature deadline: April 24, 2026
Parents, caregivers, educators, students, alumni, neighbors, and community supporters are all welcome to sign.
It only takes a minute to add your name.
Purpose
This campaign bridges the gap between district spreadsheets and the lived reality of our students and families. We are advocating for a budget that prioritizes human resources so that every student is viewed as a Full Member of their school community, with consistent support and specialized instruction.
The Context: A System in Crisis
Somerville Public Schools has received a state determination of "Needs Assistance" regarding special education performance. Educators and families report widespread service lapses due to unfilled vacancies and unmanageable caseloads.
We cannot accept a "Level-Service" budget that locks in failure. We demand a budget that meets our legal and moral obligations.
Click the link below to view the official Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) determination letter and scoring matrix for the district.
Status Quo Check:
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Unmet Service Minutes
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Staff Burnout & Vacancies
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Inclusion Barriers
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Lack of Coverage
Demand for Transparency: Program Definitions
Beyond staffing levels, SEPAC is advocating for the right to be fully informed partners in the IEP process. On February 9, 2026, SEPAC sent a formal letter to district leadership requesting comprehensive program definitions, inclusion standards, and placement criteria for every specialized program (AIM, SEEK, SKIP, LB/LD, etc.).
Families cannot meaningfully participate as equal members of the IEP team if they do not understand the fundamental differences between the programs being proposed. The District has committed to providing this information to SEPAC no later than March 20, 2026. We will use these definitions to help audit whether the proposed FY27 budget actually provides the staffing required to fulfill these program missions.
UPDATE: District Response Received March 20 - Click Here to View
Our Advocacy Goals
Licensed Reading Specialist
Hire additional Licensed Reading Specialists specifically trained and certified in Orton-Gillingham (OG) or similar multisensory, structured literacy approaches. We demand targeted, intensive intervention for all students with significant reading gaps, including those with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities. Specialized instruction must be accessible to every student requiring this level of support to reach proficiency.
Co-Teaching Expansion
We must fund the expansion of the co-teaching model across the district as a standard for inclusive education. This model allows students with disabilities to remain with their peers in the general education setting while receiving the high-level support they are entitled to.
Staffing for Full Membership
Ensure every classroom—from specialized programs like AIM, SEEK, SKIP, and LB/LD to general education—is staffed with a full team of educators and paraprofessionals. No student should be "othered" or excluded because a classroom lacks the human resources to support their needs.
Neuro-affirming & Inclusive Training
Fund robust, district-wide professional development for all staff on the full spectrum of disabilities—including physical, cognitive, developmental, and "invisible" disabilities. This training must move beyond "compliance" toward neuro-affirming practices that value and support all ways of thinking, moving, and communicating.
Specialized Math Instruction & Intervention
Hire dedicated Math Specialists and Interventionists trained to provide evidence-based, intensive support for all students struggling with numeracy, including those with dyscalculia and math-based learning disabilities. Our budget must bridge achievement gaps by ensuring that every student needing targeted math intervention receives it consistently and from qualified specialists.
Sustainable Service Delivery & Coverage
Secure enough FTE (Full-Time Employee) positions for SLPs, OTs, PTs, Counselors, School Psychologists, BCBAs and all special education staff to ensure 100% service delivery. This must include staffing levels that ensure that mandated services continue uninterrupted when staff are pulled for IEP meetings or evaluations.
Identification & Child Find (Baseline Compliance)
Allocate specific funds for evaluation personnel and materials to fulfill the district's legal Child Find responsibility (ages 3-21). We demand a budget that ensures comprehensive and timely evaluations for every student. Early identification is a vital civil right that provides the foundation for all future success; currently, we are failing to meet this baseline.
How You Can Help
Option 1: New SEPAC Budget Advocacy Sign-on Letter
The Somerville SEPAC has launched a Budget Advocacy Sign-on Letter urging City and school leaders to prioritize special education in the FY27 budget and protect the students, staff, and services our schools depend on. Signature deadline April 24, 2026.
Option 2: The Anonymous Impact Form
We are compiling an "Anonymous Impact Report." We will be publicly posting and emailing this report to all District Leadership and School Committee members. Success stories prove that specialized services work; stories of failure prove that the current "Needs Assistance" status is a crisis that requires immediate funding.
Fund Our IEPs Advocacy Toolkit
Fund Our IEPs: Campaign Overview
This campaign bridges the gap between district spreadsheets and the lived reality of our students and families. We are advocating for a budget that prioritizes human resources so that every student is viewed as a Full Member of their school community, with consistent support and specialized instruction.
Budget 101 for Somerville SEPAC Families
A budget is a map of values expressed through staffing and resource allocation. A Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is a civil right and a moral imperative. This handout aims to help SEPAC families follow the process, understand common terms (like “level service”), and ask informed questions about special education funding.
SEPAC Letter Requesting Comprehensive Program Definitions, Inclusion Standards, and Placement Criteria
Beyond staffing levels, SEPAC is advocating for the right to be fully informed partners in the IEP process. On February 9, 2026, SEPAC sent a formal letter to district leadership requesting comprehensive program definitions, inclusion standards, and placement criteria for every specialized program (AIM, SEEK, SKIP, LB/LD, etc.).
FY27 Budget Important Dates
Apr 29, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMCheck Somerville School Committee WebpageDraft personnel budget shared with School Committee
May 06, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMEast Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St, Somerville, MA 02145, USA