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Understanding IDEA Part B LEA Annual Determinations: A Key Guide for Somerville Parents (Updated for 2024-2025)

As parents of children with disabilities in Somerville, you play a vital role in your child's education. Each year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) evaluates how well school districts across the state are meeting federal special education requirements. We're here to share important news about Somerville Public Schools' latest evaluation, released by DESE on May 2, 2025, and explain what this means for our community.


What Are These "Determinations"?

The "IDEA Part B LEA Annual Determinations" serve as a yearly report card for how well Somerville Public Schools (SPS) is fulfilling the requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a landmark law ensuring that all children with disabilities (ages 3 through 21) have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) tailored to their unique needs.

Each year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) reviews data from every local school district (LEA) and assigns one of four "determination levels":

  • Meets Requirements (MR): This is the highest level, indicating the district is fully meeting IDEA's requirements.

  • Needs Assistance (NA): The district requires targeted help in specific areas to fully comply with requirements.

  • Needs Intervention (NI): More significant or persistent issues have been identified, requiring direct and intensive interventions to improve.

  • Needs Substantial Intervention (NSI): This indicates serious and ongoing non-compliance, prompting the state to take more direct and stringent actions. (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)


Somerville's Determination: "Needs Assistance" for 2024-2025

For the 2024-2025 school year, Somerville Public Schools has been determined to be in the category of "Needs Assistance."


What "Needs Assistance" Means for Somerville:

This determination indicates that Somerville Public Schools achieved a determination percentage between 65.0% and 74.9% on DESE's new scale. While our district is generally working to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), this rating highlights specific areas where performance or compliance needs improvement.

This determination triggers specific actions from DESE and the district:

  • Targeted Technical Assistance from DESE: Somerville Public Schools will receive focused support from DESE to address the identified areas of need. This can include expert guidance, specialized training, and direct consultation to help improve practices.

  • Required Improvement Planning: SPS will need to develop or update an improvement plan. This plan will detail concrete steps, timelines, and measurable goals to address the deficiencies that led to the "Needs Assistance" rating.

  • Increased State Monitoring: DESE will more closely monitor Somerville's progress in the areas identified for improvement, ensuring accountability and follow-through.

  • Potential Federal Funding Adjustments: While not the most severe outcome, a "Needs Assistance" determination can influence how federal special education funds are used. In some cases, a portion of these funds may need to be set aside specifically for improvement activities.

For parents, this means:

  • Stay Informed: Understanding this determination helps you grasp the larger picture of special education efforts and priorities in Somerville.

  • Advocacy Opportunities: The "Needs Assistance" designation points to specific areas where the SEPAC and individual parents can focus their questions and advocacy efforts, encouraging targeted improvements that benefit all students with disabilities.

  • Partnership for Progress: This situation presents an opportunity for parents and the district to collaborate. By working together, we can address challenges and strive for the best possible educational outcomes for all children with disabilities in Somerville.


How Are These Determinations Made? (New for 2024-2025!)

For the 2024-2025 school year, DESE has updated its evaluation system to align more closely with federal guidelines. They now employ a matrix-based system that awards points across various categories of performance and compliance. A district's final "determination percentage" is calculated from these points, which then places them into one of the four determination levels.

This new system directly links to Somerville's performance on State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) Indicators. These indicators are specific, measurable areas that demonstrate how well districts are implementing IDEA and achieving positive results for students with disabilities.


Here's what DESE closely examines:

1. Performance Indicators (Focus on Student Results)

These indicators assess how students with disabilities are achieving academically and progressing in their educational journey.

  • Indicator 1: Graduation Rate of Students with Disabilities (SwD)

    • Measures: The percentage of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who graduate with a regular high school diploma.

    • See more & statewide data: Indicator 1 Information

  • Indicator 2: Dropout Rate of SwD

    • Measures: The percentage of students with IEPs who drop out of high school.

    • See more & statewide data: Indicator 2 Information

  • Indicator 3B: Proficiency of SwD on Statewide Assessments

    • Measures: The percentage of students with IEPs who are proficient on Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests. (Indicator 3 also includes participation, 3A, and alternate assessment proficiency, 3C).

    • See more & statewide data: Indicator 3 Information

    • (For Somerville's specific MCAS data, use the School and District Profiles link in the "Where to Find More Data" section below.)

  • Indicator 5: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for ages 5-21

    • Measures: The percentage of school-aged students with IEPs (ages 5-21) who are educated with their non-disabled peers in general education settings for 80% or more of the school day, or in other settings.

    • See more & statewide data: Indicator 5 Information

  • Indicator 6: LRE for ages 3-5

    • Measures: The percentage of preschool children with IEPs (ages 3-5) who receive the majority of their special education services in regular early childhood programs alongside their typically developing peers.

    • See more & statewide data: Indicator 6 Information


2. Compliance Indicators (Focus on Following the Rules)

These indicators assess whether the district is adhering to IDEA's specific rules and procedures, ensuring equitable practices.

  • Indicator 4B: Significant Discrepancy in Discipline

    • Measures: Looks at whether there's a significant difference in long-term suspension/expulsion rates (more than 10 cumulative days) for students with IEPs based on their race or ethnicity, and if noncompliant policies contribute to this.

    • See more & data context (related to Indicators 4, 9, 10): Indicator 4 Information

  • Indicator 9: Disproportionate Representation (Overall)

    • Measures: Examines if students from certain racial/ethnic groups are identified for special education at much higher rates than others due to inappropriate identification practices.

    • See more & data context (related to Indicators 4, 9, 10): Indicator 9 Information

  • Indicator 10: Disproportionate Representation in Specific Disability Categories

    • Measures: Similar to Indicator 9, but focuses on over-representation of specific racial/ethnic groups within particular disability categories (e.g., autism, specific learning disability, emotional disturbance) due to inappropriate identification.

    • See more & data context (related to Indicators 4, 9, 10): Indicator 10 Information

  • Indicator 11: Child Find (Timeliness of Initial Evaluations)

    • Measures: The percentage of children referred for special education who receive their initial evaluation and eligibility determination within the state's required timeline (45 school working days).

    • See more & statewide data context: Indicator 11 Information

  • Indicator 12: Early Childhood Transition

    • Measures: The percentage of children transitioning from Early Intervention (Part C) services who are found eligible for special education (Part B) and have an IEP implemented by their 3rd birthday.

    • See more & statewide data: Indicator 12 Information


3. Correction of Noncompliance

This criterion assesses whether any issues of non-compliance previously identified (from parent complaints or state monitoring visits) have been corrected quickly and effectively within the required timelines.


4. Additional Considerations Criteria

This new section includes checks on:

  • Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Compliance: Ensuring the district maintains its financial commitment to special education funding year-to-year, spending at least the same amount of local or state and local funds.

  • Timely Reporting of Valid and Reliable Data: Confirming the district submits accurate and complete data to DESE by the designated due dates.


Why Are These Determinations Important?

These annual evaluations are critical for several reasons:

  1. Accountability: They hold school districts accountable for providing high-quality special education services and achieving positive results for students with disabilities.

  2. Transparency: The determinations are public. This allows parents, the SEPAC, and the broader community to see how Somerville Public Schools is performing in special education.

  3. Targeted Support & Improvement: If a district "Needs Assistance" or "Needs Intervention," DESE provides specific support, training, and may direct the use of federal special education funds to address identified weaknesses. This structured assistance helps our district improve.

  4. Informs Advocacy: As a SEPAC, these determinations provide valuable insights. They highlight areas where Somerville Public Schools is succeeding and where we may need to advocate for more resources or changes, empowering us to work more effectively.


Where to Find Somerville's Determination & More Information:

You can find the official list of LEA determinations on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website.

  • Direct link to the 2024-2025 LEA Determinations on the DESE Website: DESE LEA Determinations Page

    • This page is the primary source for current determinations. For previous years' determinations, you will typically find links to past reports or an archive section directly on this page. You can then open the relevant year's document (often a large PDF or Excel file) and search for "Somerville" or its district code (02720000).

  • Quick Reference Guide: LEA Determination Criteria for 2024: This document provides a concise overview of the new matrix-based criteria and how determinations are made.

  • Frequently Asked Questions about LEA Determinations of Need for Special Education Technical Assistance or Intervention: This FAQ document addresses common questions about the determination process, its implications, and how districts can improve.

  • DESE Policy Memo outlining the changes for 2024-2025 Determinations: This memo provides detailed information on the new criteria and calculation methods.

  • DESE LEA Determinations Webinar Slides (May 7, 2025): These slides offer a visual explanation of the new determination process.

  • State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) Overview: This page provides a general overview of the SPP/APR, which details how Massachusetts is working to meet IDEA requirements and reports on performance and compliance across various indicators.


Where to Find More Data:

DESE provides several robust tools and reports for exploring special education data across the state, for individual districts, and even for individual schools. When using these tools, remember to select "Somerville" (or the specific school name) or its organization code (02720000) to find relevant data.

  • DESE School and District Profiles (General Data Hub): This is the central location for a wide range of district and school-level data, including enrollment, demographics, assessment results (filterable by student group, including Students with Disabilities), and more.

  • RADAR Special Education Dashboard (Interactive PowerBI): A highly interactive dashboard consolidating a wide variety of special education data, such as enrollment, staff, identification trends, placement trajectories, and key indicators. A powerful tool for detailed analysis.

  • Student Outcomes Comparison Tool (Interactive PowerBI): This tool allows you to compare outcomes among different student groups, including students with disabilities, across various indicators. Useful for identifying disparities.

  • Special Education Results - Performance (Statewide & by District/School): This report page on the DESE profiles site often contains tables for the core performance indicators (Graduation, Dropout, LRE, etc.) for all districts and sometimes allows filtering down to the school level for certain data points.

  • LEA/District Level Special Education Map & Data (Interactive Map): This interactive map can visualize some special education data points by district, and sometimes allows for school-level views.

  • SPP/APR Indicator Card: This quick-reference resource provides a concise list and brief definition of all the Part B SPP/APR indicators, along with associated data collection information. It's a helpful overview for understanding the metrics used in the determinations.


Useful Links and Resources for Parents:

  • Somerville Public Schools Special Education Department: Your primary contact for questions specific to your child's education and local services.

    • Contact Information: Find staff contacts on the Somerville Public Schools website under "District Departments" > "Special Education." Key contacts include Ildefonso Arellanso, Director of Special Education, and Marisa MacDonald, Assistant Director of Special Education, both reachable at 617-625-6600.

  • Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Special Education Information for Parents: DESE Special Education Info for Parents

  • Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN): A fantastic Massachusetts-based organization providing information, support, and training to parents of children with disabilities.

  • Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC): That's us! We're here to support you, provide information, and advocate for the needs of all students with disabilities in Somerville.

We hope this updated explanation helps you understand the IDEA Part B LEA Annual Determinations. Understanding this process empowers us all to work together to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for our children in Somerville.

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