Special Education

Special Education is a set of services provided to students who experience exceptional learning needs. Governed by federal law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA), special education is defined as: “Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.” Special education services may be provided across various educational environments to students who have an individualized education program (IEP).

Eligibility for special education services requires that students have an identified disability that impacts their ability to learn and necessitates additional services and resources to participate effectively in school.

Under the law, the IDEA ensures that regardless of a student’s disability or level of severity, schools must provide an appropriate education to ALL children with a disability (ages 3-21).

In Massachusetts, determining special education eligibility for students involves a multi-step process, often guided by an eligibility flowchart. This flowchart, along with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidance, helps teams make informed decisions. The process includes evaluating whether a student has a disability and, if so, whether the student requires specially designed instruction or related services to access the general curriculum.

Phone: (413) 584-2419 Fax: (413) 582-6457

Address: 21 River Drive, Hadley, MA 01035

Director of Student Services: Dr. Celia Utley, click to email

Student Services Administrative Assistant: Melissa Steinbeck, click to email