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Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Massachusetts Association of Approved Special Education Schools, known as MAAPS, is the association of approved special education private schools. MAAPS provides services and advocacy for its member schools. Membership is voluntary.
  • MAAPS does not provide or facilitate placements for individual students.
  • Visit the online directory to locate an approved special education school in the online directory, review the placement resources, and plan your visit to a member school.
  • K-12 education is a constitutional right in America. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that entitles all students to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). If a child’s needs cannot be met in the public school, then the public school must provide for the child to attend an alternative, out-of-district placement that meets their needs as outlined in their Individual Education Program (IEP).

    The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) defines an approved special education private school or an approved program as, “a private day or residential school, within or outside Massachusetts, that has applied to, and received approval from, the Department of Education.”

  • These schools are also referred to as “Chapter 766” schools in reference to the groundbreaking 1973 Massachusetts law (now Mass. General Laws Ch. 71B) that guarantees the rights of children with special needs (ages 3-21) to an educational program that meets their needs. 

  • Students who have a wide range of educational needs attend special education private schools. Many of these students have complex learning needs, and/or accompanying behavioral challenges, and/or medical needs. Most are public school special education students who have not demonstrated meaningful educational progress in other settings.
  • For students attending approved special education schools, their IEP team has determined
    • The student is not making progress in the public school
    • Their disability is a barrier to accessing their education
    • An approved special education school would be the least restrictive environment (LRE) to meet their specific needs

  • "Because LRE is determined by the student’s individualized programof instruction and related services rather than by setting, IDEA requires that school districts create a continuum of alternative placement options."

    -Vanderbilt University, IRIS Center

  • IRIS_Least_Restrictive_Environment_InfoBrief
  • Approved special education schools provide expertise and environments designed to meet specific needs as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and as regulated by state agencies.

  • Equal Rights, Excellence, and Expertise

    DESE approves the school’s population and conducts reviews to ensure the school remains in compliance. DESE and other state agencies also regulate the schools extensively, similarly to public schools.

    This ensures safety, transparency and accountability to the extraordinary students who attend.

  • When the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in general education classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily, students are sometimes served through a true public-private partnership with an approved special education school.
  • Special education is paid for at three levels – federal, state and local.

    1. Federal – for example, IDEA funds to districts
    2. State – for example, Chapter 70 aid, local aid, and Special Education Circuit Breaker Fund
    3. Local – primarily by the local education authority (LEA), as the local school system is required to educate every student in their community.

  • The special education Team (including but not limited to the family and public school district providers) considers all aspects of the student's proposed IEP and determines the appropriate placement to provide those services.
  • If an in-district program cannot provide the services on the IEP, the special education Team will identify out-of-district placement options and send referrals to approved schools.

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Other Inquiries

Professional inquiries may be directed to info@maaps.org

MAAPS is an association that provides services and advocacy for member schools.  MAAPS does not provide placement consultations or facilitate referrals for individual students.  If you are a parent or professional reaching out about an individual student, please refer to the online directory for school admission contact information and the placement resources section for other helpful information.