Family & Community Special Communities
Special Education

Accountability and Technical Assistance in the Area of Special Education

Last year, ESE linked special education "determinations" to special education compliance, student performance indicators, and the district's AYP reports. For this year we have refined the determination process to take into account positive progress. We believe this more detailed consideration will allow us to make the best use of existing department resources to provide meaningful and useful assistance or intervention.

While ESE is continuing to consider special education compliance, we are paying closer attention to student performance trends and patterns as measured by MCAS. When we review MCAS results, we now are considering district performance, grade span performance, and special education subgroup performance and improvement from prior years. We are considering Composite Performance Index (CPI) information and the number of students tested. We are focusing on the area of English Language Arts because of its close association with special education referrals and its inclusion in most individualized educational programs.

The attached three pages provide more detail on how we have made a determination level for each district for 2008-2009. We will be sending each district notice of its determination next week.

The ESE is strengthening its efforts to coordinate targeted technical assistance to districts in both special education and other program areas. We seek to help you provide students with disabilities the support that they need to perform at the highest levels. Thank you in advance for your review of the attached information memorandum.

* As required by Section 616(b)(1)(A) and 642 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (See also: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/2007/0516ata.html )

Last Updated: February 25, 2009