SPECIAL EDUCATION

COMPLAINTS and COMPLIANCE

Program Quality Assurance

Program Quality Assurance Services (PQA) of the Department of Education implements the Department's compliance monitoring and complaint management procedures for school districts, charter schools, educational collaboratives, and approved public and private day and residential special education schools and provides technical assistance to school personnel and the public regarding the implementation of laws and regulations.

Newburyport’s PQA liaison is:         
Donna Feinberg
781-338-3731
DFeinberg@doe.mass.edu

Special Education Appeals

The Bureau of Special Education Appeals ("BSEA") conducts mediations, advisory opinions and due process hearings to resolve disputes among parents, school districts, private schools and state agencies concerning eligibility, evaluation, placement, individualized education programs (IEPs), special education services and procedural protections for students with disabilities. The BSEA derives its authority from both federal law and regulations (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, "IDEA") and Massachusetts law and regulations.

A parent or a school district may request mediation, advisory opinions and/or a hearing at any time on any matter concerning the eligibility, evaluation, placement, individualized education program (IEP), provision of special education in accordance with state and federal law, or procedural protections of state and federal law for students with disabilities.

Mediations, advisory opinions and hearings are conducted by impartial mediators and hearing officers who do not have personal or professional interests that would conflict with their objectivity in the hearing or mediation. The BSEA consists of eight hearing officers, all of whom are attorneys, eight mediators, a coordinator of mediation, a scheduling coordinator, support staff, an assistant director and a director.

The BSEA is located with the Massachusetts Department of Education, but is independent from the Department.

Newburyport’s mediator is:       Susan Labovitz– 781-338-6415, or slabovitz@doe.mass.edu