BSEA:Decisions

See also [fully searchable record of rulings back to 2000]

The following links and summaries make it easier to find relevant legal and educational references on special education.

The school systems almost always win these cases because they only go to hearing if they are sure they will win. If they have any doubt, they settle in advance. Nonetheless, each case gives a detailed description of the experience of one child and family. Those descriptions are very valuable for learning about services and practices in special education.

Decisions

• Framingham v Natick and DESE Assignment Decision 5-28-2010

• Anonymous Reading Decision
• Lexington 5-21-2010
• Salem 5-14-2010
• Somerset vs Fall River and DESE 5-10-2010
• Anonymous 1-8-2010
• Greenfield 4-13-2010
• Randolph 4-9-2010
• Sudbury 4-9-2010
• Anonymous 3-26-2010
• Arlington 3-15-2010
• Harwich 3-8-2010
• Hingham 2-1-2010
• Natick 2-9-2010
• Newton 11-20-2009
• Attleboro 11-18-2009

Rulings

These are a little more legalistic and less education focused. Some contain statements of fact and they show the tricks of the trade used by lawyers on both sides to advance their case.

• Worcester CORRECTED RULING ON MOTION TO JOIN 3-9-2010
• Shrewsbury RULING ON REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION OF LEGAL STANDARD 2-18-2010
• Hudson MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 2-2-2010
• Attleboro Parents’ Motion to Recuse Hearing Officer 10-09-2009
• Westwood Public Schools’ Motion To Dismiss Parent’s Hearing Request With Prejudice and/or Motion for Summary Judgment and Mother’s Motion to Require the District to Allow the Parent to Audiotape the Team Meeting 10-07-2009
• Attleboro Public Schools’ Motion To Dismiss Parents’ Hearing Request With Prejudice 9-29-2009
• RULING ON WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ MOTION FOR DIRECTED VERDICT 8-07-2009
• Bridgewater-Raynham Ruling on Parent’s/Student’s Motion for Re-Assignment of the Hearing Officer/Recusal and Bridgewater-Raynham Public Schools’ Request for Issuance of Subpoena to Dr. Steven Auster and Motion to Leave Open the Record for the Testimony of Dr. Auster 7-29-2009
• Brockton Recusal Motion 7-08-2009
• Fall River RULING RE JOINDER OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH 6-24-2009
• Motion of the Springfield Public Schools to Join the Department of Mental Retardation, the Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind in this appeal. 6-03-2009
• RULING ON HUDSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 2-02-2009
• Scituate RULING ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY DECISION 4-28-2009
• Natick RULING ON MOTION TO DISMISS 4-07-2009

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This project and information is not affiliated with the Mass DESE. It is an independent effort by private citizens intended to help the people of Massachusetts learn more about the Special Education in our state.

Much of this information is extracted from BSEA Searchable List of Rulings

Additional comments and information from public sources has also been included. The contents and links may have been edited as well. No representation is made as to the accuracy or validity of this information. This page is only intended to help people more easily keep in touch with the work of the Bureau of Special Education Appeals

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