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Southeastern Mass. Educational Collaborative (SMEC)

Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts
★★★★★ Not yet rated by parents
🗣️ 0 parent reports ☎️ (508)998-5599
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These are parent-submitted experiences about Southeastern Mass. Educational Collaborative (SMEC) as an institution, posted directly by parents. iep.tips is a neutral platform and does not verify these accounts — they are families' own statements and opinions, not verified facts or legal advice, and not a review of any individual employee. See something false or abusive? Use the Report link. Read our disclaimer.

No parent reports for Southeastern Mass. Educational Collaborative (SMEC) yet.

If you've navigated an IEP here, your story could be the roadmap another family needs. Share it »

🛟 How to fight for your child's IEP — and who to call

If Southeastern Mass. Educational Collaborative (SMEC) isn't giving your child the services they're legally owed, you have a clear, federally-protected path. Under IDEA these steps are the same everywhere — work them in order and put everything in writing.

Step 1

Request an IEP meeting — in writing

Email your child's case manager and the district's Director of Exceptional/Special Education. State the problem and the services you're requesting, and ask for a formal IEP-team meeting. Keep a copy of everything. District office: (508)998-5599.

Step 2

File a state complaint

If the district violated an IDEA rule in the last year, file a signed written complaint with your state's special-education dispute-resolution office (below). The state must investigate and issue a decision — usually within 60 days.

Step 3

Ask for mediation

Request free, voluntary mediation through the state — a neutral, trained mediator helps you and the district reach a written agreement. It's faster and less adversarial than a hearing.

Step 4

File for a due-process hearing

For serious disputes over identification, evaluation, placement, or FAPE, file for a due-process hearing — a formal legal proceeding. Consider getting an advocate or attorney first (see Protection & Advocacy below).

⚖️ Where to file & get free help in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — Special-Education Dispute Resolution
File a state complaint (IDEA), request mediation, or a due-process hearing
· 🔗 visit site

File a written state complaint within 1 year of the violation, request free mediation, or file for a due-process hearing. Start here if the district is out of compliance.

Disability Law Center (MA)
Protection & Advocacy — free legal help for special-education & disability rights
☎️ 617-723-8455 · 🔗 visit site

Your state's federally-funded disability rights agency. Free information, advice, and sometimes legal representation for IEP and special-education disputes.

📚 Know-your-rights resources

Your legal footing: Under IDEA every eligible child is entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and an IEP built to their needs. Section 504/ADA also bar disability discrimination.

• Parent Training & Information Center (PTI): free coaching for your state — find your center »

• CADRE (national dispute-resolution center): cadreworks.org »

• U.S. Dept. of Education OSEP (administers IDEA) & Office for Civil Rights for 504/ADA complaints.

Tip: bring a written list of requests to every meeting, ask for the district's response in writing, and never sign an IEP you don't agree with — you can consent to parts and dispute the rest.

💪 Not just your child? Use strength in numbers.

If other Southeastern Mass. Educational Collaborative (SMEC) families are hitting the same wall, it's a district problem — and numbers change the outcome. Send this page to your social-media contacts and Facebook parent groups, and ask other parents at drop-off and pickup: is this happening to you too? Gather the stories here so the pattern is documented. Once you can prove a bigger issue: wear matching-color shirts for solidarity, protest peacefully, pack school-board meetings, reach out to government officials, give interviews, and send press releases to the local newsrooms below to bring the media in.

See the full step-by-step » Organize an event »

📣 Take action for Southeastern Mass. Educational Collaborative (SMEC)

Systemic problems get fixed when they become public. Below is local press near this district and the officials responsible for Bristol County.

📰 Local newsrooms

Show within
Standard-Times
Local newspaper
2 mi
· 🔍 find “Standard-Times” online
The Wanderer
Local newspaper
7 mi
· 🔍 find “The Wanderer” online
The Herald News
Local newspaper
13 mi
· 🔍 find “The Herald News” online
The Falmouth Enterprise
Local newspaper
17 mi
· 🔍 find “The Falmouth Enterprise” online
The Newport Daily News
Daily newspaper
21 mi
· 🔗 site
The Martha's Vineyard Times
Local newspaper
21 mi
· 🔍 find “The Martha's Vineyard Times” online
Taunton Daily Gazette
Local newspaper
22 mi
· 🔍 find “Taunton Daily Gazette” online
The Mashpee Enterprise
Local newspaper
24 mi
· 🔍 find “The Mashpee Enterprise” online
Vineyard Gazette
Local newspaper
26 mi
· 🔍 find “Vineyard Gazette” online
WJAR (NBC)
NBC affiliate — TV
28 mi
· 🔗 site
WPRI-TV (CBS)
CBS affiliate — TV
28 mi
· 🔗 site
WSBE-TV (PBS)
PBS — TV
28 mi
· 🔍 find “WSBE-TV (PBS)” online
WNAC-TV (FOX)
FOX affiliate — TV
28 mi
· 🔗 site
The Providence Journal
Daily newspaper
29 mi
· 🔗 site
The Sun Chronicle
Local newspaper
29 mi
· 🔍 find “The Sun Chronicle” online
The Times
Local newspaper
29 mi
· 🔍 find “The Times” online
Kent County Daily Times
Local newspaper
30 mi
· 🔍 find “Kent County Daily Times” online
The Enterprise
Local newspaper
33 mi
· 🔍 find “The Enterprise” online
Duxbury Clipper
Local newspaper
33 mi
· 🔍 find “Duxbury Clipper” online
Cape Cod Times
Local newspaper
33 mi
· 🔍 find “Cape Cod Times” online
The Barnstable Patriot
Local newspaper
34 mi
· 🔍 find “The Barnstable Patriot” online
The Call
Local newspaper
40 mi
· 🔍 find “The Call” online
The Patriot Ledger
Local newspaper
44 mi
· 🔍 find “The Patriot Ledger” online
Milton Times
Local newspaper
45 mi
· 🔍 find “Milton Times” online
Dedham Transcript
Local newspaper
45 mi
· 🔍 find “Dedham Transcript” online
The Westerly Sun
Local newspaper
48 mi
· 🔍 find “The Westerly Sun” online
The Milford Daily News
Local newspaper
48 mi
· 🔍 find “The Milford Daily News” online
Provincetown Independent
Local newspaper
50 mi
· 🔍 find “Provincetown Independent” online
The Inquirer and Mirror
Local newspaper
50 mi
· 🔍 find “The Inquirer and Mirror” online
Cape Cod Chronicle
Local newspaper
50 mi
· 🔍 find “Cape Cod Chronicle” online
The Cape Codder
Local newspaper
51 mi
· 🔍 find “The Cape Codder” online
The Wellesley Townsman
Local newspaper
51 mi
· 🔍 find “The Wellesley Townsman” online
Hopkinton Independent
Local newspaper
52 mi
· 🔍 find “Hopkinton Independent” online
WGBH-TV (PBS)
PBS — TV
52 mi
· 🔗 site
WBZ-TV (CBS)
CBS affiliate — TV
52 mi
· 🔗 site
WCVB-TV (ABC)
ABC affiliate — TV
52 mi
· 🔗 site
WHDH (Independent)
Independent — TV
52 mi
· 🔗 site
WBTS-CD (NBC)
NBC affiliate — TV
52 mi
· 🔗 site
WFXT (FOX)
FOX affiliate — TV
52 mi
· 🔗 site
WSBK-TV (Independent)
Independent — TV
52 mi
· 🔗 site

🏛️ Officials for Bristol County

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
State education agency — special-education oversight · MA
· 🔗 site
Office of the Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey
Governor · MA
· 🔗 site
U.S. Dept. of Education — Office for Civil Rights
Disability discrimination complaints (504/ADA) · National
✉️ OCR@ed.gov · ☎️ 1-800-421-3481 · 🔗 site
U.S. Dept. of Education — OSEP
Federal special-education oversight (IDEA) · National
✉️ OSEP@ed.gov · ☎️ 1-800-872-5327 · 🔗 site