Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),1 the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (the Department) must make annual determinations regarding Local Education Agencies' (LEA) specific needs for technical assistance or intervention in special education.2 Massachusetts does so based on four categories:
In making the 2024-2025 LEA determinations, the Department assessed LEAs' performance and compliance data,3 including data from Special Education general Supervision System, Integrated Monitoring Review process, State complaints, State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Reports, and other data available to the State about the LEA's compliance with IDEA. Changes were made this year moving from a rubric to a matrix and inclusion of additional criteria to align it with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Memo 23-01: State General Supervision Responsibilities Under Parts B and C of the IDEA .
The Department supports all districts assigned the NA, NI, or NSI determination by offering targeted and technical assistance related to special education. Coordinated assistance and intervention are available from multiple offices including, the Office of Special Education Planning and Policy (SEPP), Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM), Office of Statewide System of Support (SSOS), Office of School Turnaround (OST), and Office of Charter Schools & School Redesign (CSSRD). Assistance will be tailored to meet an LEA's needs depending on the reasons for which an LEA was identified as needing technical assistance or intervention. The Department will communicate directly with LEAs about this assistance and intervention. Many LEAs are already engaged in accountability and assistance activities with the Department, special education improvement activities may be directed in collaboration with the LEAs' existing accountability and assistance Department liaisons to ensure a coordinated approach to providing LEAs technical assistance and intervention.
Contained in the Matrix, the final LEA determinations reflect both performance and compliance in special education. This year, all the performance criteria are aligned with the LEA's performance on the State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) Indicators: 1 (Graduation Rate of SwD), 2 (Drop Out Rate of SwD), 3B (Proficiency of SwD on Statewide Assessments, 5 (LRE 5–21), and 6 (LRE 3–5). Weighting of particular categories was removed from the calculations. Compliance criteria are aligned with SPP/APR Compliance Indicators: 4B (Significant Discrepancy in Discipline), Indicator 9 (Disproportionate Representation), Indicator 10 (Disproportionate Representation in Specific Disability Categories), Indicator 11 (Child Find), Indicator 12 (Early Childhood Transition), and Indicator 13 (Secondary Transition). Additionally, points for Problem Resolution System (PRS) Findings were combined with Public School Monitoring (PSM) Findings into two categories: Identification of Non-Compliance and Verified Correction of Non-Compliance and reported as total number of findings of noncompliance.
Lastly, a new "Additional Criteria" section was added to include information from fiscal systems (MOE Compliance) and LEA timely reporting of valid and reliable data (Equitable Services Child Count Submissions, Indicator 7 Useable Records, and Indicator 14 Response Rate).
Calculation
(Sum of points earned across all categories with reportable data) ÷ (Total Number of Possible Points in Categories with Reportable Data) = LEA Determination percentage
Meets Requirements (MR)
The Department will not be providing targeted technical assistance or intervention to these LEAs based on the LEA determination.
Needs Assistance (NA)
The Department will provide targeted technical assistance to these LEAs based on this annual LEA determination. Targeted assistance related to identified areas of need may include:
In addition, all LEAs with determinations of NA are prohibited from using certain flexibility available under the Maintenance of Effort5 provisions of IDEA. LEAs with this determination are required to engage in improvement activities to address areas of need as identified by the data used in the determination.
Needs Intervention (NI)
The Department will provide targeted intervention to these LEAs based on this annual LEA determination. Targeted interventions related to identified areas of need may include those interventions for NA LEAs. NI LEAs are directed to use a portion of the funds made available under IDEA Part B special education Fund Code 240 and Fund Code 262 for the improvement of performance issues identified through the LEA determination system, i.e., Making Money Matter (M3). Also, all NI LEAs are prohibited from using certain flexibility available under the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) provisions of IDEA.
Additionally, NI LEAs currently receiving support from one of the Department's accountability offices including, SSoS, OST, or CSSRD, DESE will coordinate with LEAs' current assistance liaisons to promote a coordinated approach to technical assistance and intervention regarding special education. Therefore, DESE will coordinate with LEAs' current assistance liaisons to promote a coordinated approach to technical assistance and intervention regarding special education. A consultant will meet with each LEA to review the district's matrix data and to develop a plan for targeted and technical assistance for special education.
Needs Substantial Intervention (NSI)
The Department will provide targeted intervention to any LEAs with a determination of NSI. The Department may also take any other enforcement actions deemed necessary, including all activities identified for other determination levels as well as:
In addition, all LEAs identified with a determination of NSI are prohibited from using certain flexibility available under the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) provisions of IDEA.
A list of LEAs' 2024-2025 special education accountability and assistance level data is available on the Department's website. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about LEA Determinations of Need for Special Education Technical Assistance or Intervention for questions about LEA determinations and indicator calculations, and Department contact information. The FAQ can be found on our Special Education Determinations website.
1 As required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 —et seq.
2 The term local education agency (LEA) includes school districts composed of single schools such as charter or regional vocational high schools.
3 An LEA must meet state and federal special education requirements and, if any specific areas of non-compliance with special education requirements are identified, the LEA must engage in corrective action(s), regardless of the accountability or special education determination levels.
4 Public School Monitoring Integrated Monitoring Review
5 34 C.F.R. §§ 300.203-300.208 and Appendix E.
Last Updated: May 2, 2025