Student Services

Student Supports

District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP)

The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District in compliance with the Massachusetts General Law has developed a District Curriculum Accommodations Plan (DCAP). The intent of this plan is to provide a guidance document for school staff to ensure that all students in general education classes are provided with the tools and strategies to be successful. The DCAP is aimed at assisting teachers and specialists in providing differentiated learning experiences to ensure that students can improve learning through the use of various teaching modalities.

The DCAP describes accommodations, instructional supports, and interventions that are provided for students who are experiencing difficulty mastering content. Focusing on our core value of equity and ensuring students have access to programs and curricula to reach their potential, we used Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as the framework for our new DCAP.  

The goal of the DCAP is to describe the strategies and resources that classroom teachers and specialists are expected to use to address the diverse learning needs of all students. Our goal is to create a learning environment where students receive a variety of identified supports and accommodations in order to access instruction and assessment. Accommodations may include but are not limited to, adjustments in curriculum, teaching strategies, teaching materials and the use of various assessments where students have an opportunity to demonstrate learning.  Since we should utilize available general education supports and accommodations prior to referring a child for a special education evaluation, Child Study and Student Support Teams should monitor the effectiveness of these strategies over time.


Special Education & Services 

Within the realm of Special Education, students receive academic and therapeutic interventions at all levels from preschool through completion of secondary education or until transition/adult services. 

Civil Rights

Families in Transition (McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) 

The ABRSD provides outreach and wraparound services and supports for students who are homeless. For more information, please click here.

Medical Emergency Response Plan

In the spring of 2012, the Legislature passed and Governor Patrick signed into law, An Act Relative to Medical Emergency Response 
Plans for Schools, Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2012 (Medical  Emergency Law). The full text of the law is in Appendix 3. The Act amended Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 69 by adding Section 8A.

Under the law, every school committee must ensure that every school under its jurisdiction has a written Medical Emergency Response Plan. The purpose of the Medical Emergency Response Plan is to reduce
the incidence of life-threatening emergencies, and to promote an efficient response to such emergencies. Read the ABRSD Medical Emergency Response Plan. 

Department of Education Coordinated Program 
Review Report

Each State Department of Education is mandated by 
the federal government to review school districts' implementation of state and federal laws in certain areas. Read a summary report that DESE prepared to highlight the findings. 

2017 ABRSD Final CPR Report 

DESE CPR Reports

Family Resources

William James Interface Referral Services

In collaboration with the PTSO, the Town of Acton, AB United Way, and Danny’s Place Youth Services, we are pleased to offer a referral service for parents, students, educators, and our community. 

The William James Interface Referral Services (WJIRS) is an initiative of the William James College’s Richard and Joan Freedman Center. The service makes available a wide range of valuable resources related to mental health and wellness for the benefit of the general public – children, adults, and families – as well as educators and mental health professionals. 

In addition to maintaining an extensive, frequently updated website of available resources, WJIRS provides a free, confidential mental health and wellness helpline Monday through Friday, 9AM-5PM, at 
888-244-6843 x1411. This is a free, confidential referral service for the Acton/Boxborough communities.  Callers are matched with licensed mental health providers that meet the location, insurance, and special needs of the caller.  Each referral is provided with

follow-up assistance. 

Website: https://interface.williamjames.edu

Interface Helpline: 617-332-3666 x1411 or 888-244-6843x12411

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

Begun in 1997, Emerson Hospital is now partnering with ten local school districts to develop and implement the Youth Risk Behavior Survey as a means of improving the health status of young people in our community. Emerson has carried out a comprehensive community health needs assessment, developed partnerships with different groups to address public health issues and leveraged other resources. Having successfully implemented nine surveys of over 10,000 students, this coordinated initiative continues Emerson’s objectives of supporting health education programming in local districts, as well as positive and responsive programs in the community.

2018 Emerson YRBS Consortium Aggregate Results 
2018 ABRSD YRBS Results
2018 YRBS FAQ Document

2016 ABRSD YRBS Results (including appendices)Massachusetts YRBS FAQ Document

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