Explore Map

Student Services

Map Academy is designed to meet the needs of students who have not been successful in a traditional public high school. Map Academy is founded on an unwavering belief that every student has unique strengths and the ability to succeed. Map Academy’s competency-based asynchronous learning foundation and community-infused model couples high expectations for students such that they can restore hope, build confidence, and prepare for post-secondary success.

All Charter Schools in Massachusetts serve students with disabilities; charter schools must accept all students who are selected through a lottery. Massachusetts Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of a student’s disability, academic achievement or prior educational history.The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-2004 (IDEA) is a federal special education law which requires states and public schools to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with access to the general education curriculum within the least restrictive environment.

Map Academy supports students through a variety of services including:

504 Plans:

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (the precursor of ADA) protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities within schools receiving federal funds. This protection for students with disabilities is summarized within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’s publication: “Free Appropriate Public Education for Students with Disabilities: Requirements Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.” Another useful Office for Civil Rights publication is “Protecting Students With Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities.” The Office for Civil Rights offers many other publications in several languages.

Special Education: 

Special education provides specially designed instruction to students who qualify for an Individual Education Plan.  Eligibility for special education requires an evaluation to determine if the student’s disability impacts their ability to access the general education curriculum and to make adequate progress without the benefit of specially designed instruction.  Eligibility for special education services is determined through the Team process including the student and their parents/legal guardians. 

Map Academy Charter School follows all federal and state regulations to ensure that all students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment.  Map Academy provides special education services for students with disabilities as outlined in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Map Academy employs a wide range of special education staff to meet the diverse needs of our students including teachers, school psychologist, social workers, community support partners, Wayfinding Coordinator,  speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, and a social coach. Additional staff are consulted to provide services pending the needs of individual students. Parents/guardians and students are valued members of the IEP Team at Map Academy. In Massachusetts, special education regulations are based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in combination with the state’s special education law (MGL c. 71B) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). These laws protect the rights of disabled students who are eligible for special education services.

Notice of Parents’ Procedural Safeguards: 

Additional Special Education Resources:

Special Education Contact:

Ryan McLaughlin, Special Education Coordinator
email: rmclaughlin@themapacademy.org / phone: 508-830-9500

Sign up for an open house

Students have a unique experience at Map Academy, and we invite you to check out a sampling of it at one of our Open Houses. Here, you will see the facility, get a sense of how the space allows for the student-centered, flexible model at Map, and have your questions answered by one of our staff.

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