Special Education Report Reignites Debate in Massachusetts

By Michelle Galley

Fueled by a new report on special education costs, a debate is heating up in Massachusetts over legislative proposals that would revamp for the third time in five years the way the state teaches its students with special needs.

A central issue is whether the state should replace its own standard for providing special education services, which requires that students receive the "maximum feasible benefit," with the standard established by federal law. The federal service-level standard, mandating that students be given a "free and appropriate education," is seen by special education advocates as less generous than the state's.

A second major issue is whether the state should tighten eligibility requirements governing who qualifies for special education...