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Gov., First Lady Baker visit child development center in Andover
Charlie and Lauren Baker visited The Professional Center for Child Development to meet with students, parents & staff, and read to the kids.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and First Lady Lauren Baker made a special appearance at the Professional Center for Child Development (PCCD) in Andover last week. Students, parents, and staff at PDD, which offers a variety of programs for children 10 and younger who have complex health care needs or developmental delays, welcomed the Community Guest Readers into classrooms for a learning session and tour of the school.
“This is considered to be one of the best programs of its kind in the commonwealth,” Governor Baker said of the Professional Center for Child Development. “I think one of the things we certainly will be looking to do is get the increase in funding to these programs generally through the budget process. We put about a 5 percent increase for early intervention in our budget this year.”
PCCD is one of 80 member schools of the Massachusetts Association for 766 Approved Private Schools (maaps). Students attending maaps member schools often have learning difficulties, physical, socio-emotional, and/or medically complex challenges that cannot be met by traditional public schools. This legislative session, maaps has introduced or sponsored bills relating to special education funding, tuition rates, background checks, and licensing from the Department of Early Education and Care.
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The Professional Center for Child Development places children on a path leading to achievement by providing support services so that children of all abilities may remain in a secure environment, teaching parents and caregivers to be successful advocates for children, working to transition children into settings beyond classrooms. PCCD also educates public organizations on how to provide continued community-based support for children with and without special needs. Learn more at http://www.theprofessionalcenter.org/.
Looking to find other special education schools throughout Massachusetts? Use the maaps school and program search to find more information on the right school for your student.