League School Hosts Legislative Breakfast in Partnership with MAAPS

April 1, 2023 | Matthew Reid | News

In partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools (MAAPS), League School held a successful legislative breakfast on March 31 where we welcomed local legislators and members of the community into our school to discuss special education in the state and also learn more about the exciting things being done at League School.

Several students assisted with the event, including checking guests in and helping serve food. Multiple students spoke to the guests about how League School has helped them grow and succeed.

Our thanks to MAAPS Executive Director Elizabeth Dello Russo Becker and Director of External Affairs James Daiute for supporting the event, as well as the offices of Senator Mike Rush, Paul McMurtry and State Representative Jay Barrows for attending.

Executive Director Becker opened the event, and spoke about a variety of topics, including:

Student needs: Student needs post-pandemic are greater than ever, and approved special education schools are a critical component of the continuum of education available to students and public schools.
Staffing needs: Employees at approved schools are amazing, but it is a challenge to keep them and encourage more to go into this specialty area. Approximately 98% of K-12 schools nationally have identified a staffing crisis in special education, and more must be done to help these employees.
Impact: Today there are waitlists at MAAPS residential schools, and most day schools are at capacity. As student needs are growing and staffing is so challenging, the impact is long waitlists to receive the services students require.
What can be done: Becker encouraged those in attendance to join MAAPS and the League School in supporting the OSD Tuition Adjustment in the FY24 budget, and to write to local senators and representatives and request this adjustment go into effect. She also advocated for the proposed $75 million to school districts to cover the cost of this increase in the supplemental budget.

To learn more about the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools (MAAPS), click here.