The federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was reauthorized in December of 2004 and came fully into effect on July 1, 2005. The reauthorized act continues to emphasize the need to provide appropriate educational services to students with disabilities in order to improve educational results for these students.
IDEA-2004 continues to emphasize the role of parents and expands opportunities for parents, general educators, and special educators to work together in partnerships that support student learning and the success of students in adult life.
Every Local Educational Agency (LEA) must maintain the documentation named in each element of the Special Education Program Plan Statement to demonstrate compliance with IDEA-2004 at the local level. Massachusetts has aligned the submission of the Special Education Program Plan Statement to the cohort model associated with the data collection activities for the State Performance Plans indicators. The SEPPS submission is not tied to the Program Quality Assurance Coordinated Program Review process.
Districts assigned to Cohort 2 and Boston must complete and submit their Special Education Program Plan Statement to the Special Education Planning and Policy Development Office of the DESE by June 30, 2021.
Last Updated: June 2, 2021
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.