Last night, School Committee heard a presentation from Theresa Skinner on the state of special education (SPED) in Duxbury Public Schools. The content of the presentation reinforced the critical work being done to support students with disabilities.

One takeaway that stuck with me is how important it is for the School Committee—and the broader community—to have regular updates on SPED initiatives. These updates help ensure that we’re not only celebrating successes but also identifying areas where we can improve. I’ve already begun advocating for more frequent “state of the state” SPED discussions at our meetings because I believe transparency and data-driven insights will lead to stronger outcomes for all students.

During the meeting, I brought up a few basic metrics that could help us understand how well our district is serving students with disabilities. For example:

• How are we meeting students’ emotional and behavioral needs?
• What academic results are we seeing from out-of-district placements?
• How does our identification of students with disabilities compare to similar districts?

Tracking data points like discipline rates for students with disabilities vs. their peers, MCAS performance for out-of-district students, and overall special education enrollment trends could provide valuable insights. These are just ideas—but I trust that our district leadership and our Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) know best what data would help us stay informed.

Ultimately, my goal is simple: to ensure that every student in Duxbury Public Schools has the resources and support they need to thrive. The more we understand what’s working—and where we can do better—the more effective we can be as advocates for all students.

I look forward to continuing this conversation and working toward a stronger, more inclusive school system.