The Bureau of Special Education Appeals , which derives its authority from both federal and Massachusetts statutes and regulations (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; "IDEA"; MGL ch.71B; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) conducts due process hearings and renders Rulings and Decisions concerning eligibility, evaluation, placement, individualized education programs (IEP), provision of special education and procedural protections for students with disabilities.
Standing Orders:
BSEA Issues New Standing Order to Replace Standing Order 21-1.
- Order: BSEA 21-1 has been DELETED effective February 20, 2023.
- Standing Order 23-1
Effective: March 9, 2023
Electronic Filing
All Hearing Requests, motions, pleadings, documents, correspondence, and other written communications must be filed by email unless (a) otherwise ordered by the Hearing Officer; or (b) a party lacks access to appropriate or sufficient electronic medium. All Hearing Requests, motions, pleadings, documents, correspondence, and other written communications submitted to the BSEA must be simultaneously copied to all other known parties.
Read the full Order...
Please see the Standing Orders web page for all BSEA Standing Orders.
Who we serve
Parents, students, school districts, private schools and state agencies in matters concerning eligibility, evaluation, placement, individualized education programs (IEPs), special education services and procedural protections for students with disabilities.
BSEA Issues Revised Hearing Rules for Special Education Appeals
The BSEA is issuing revised Hearing Rules for Special Education Appeals, effective March 1, 2019. These revised rules are issued in response to differentiated monitoring and support (DMS) activities conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) during an on-site visit to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on May 8-10, 2017; consideration of public comments received; as well as on-going dialogue with OSEP.
Please see the revised Hearing Rules web page for more information.