What is a PRS Letter of Finding?

Parents can file complaints regarding noncompliance with education laws with the Problem Resolution System (PRS) of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). After investigating the complaint, DESE issues a decision, which is called a Letter of Finding.

How did MAC get these Letters of Finding?  

MAC made a public records request seeking DESE decisions for all complaints alleging noncompliance with special education laws during COVID-19. The Letters of Finding included on this page represent special education decisions issued by DESE between April 28, 2020 and July 2, 2021.

Click here to download a comprehensive chart of all Letters of Finding we’ve obtained, organized by issue area, school district, findings, and required corrective action. Or, scroll down to filter by issue area or school district.

Key Terms:

DESE: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education IEP: Individualized Education Plan IEE: Independent Educational Evaluation SELP: Special Education Learning Plan BSEA: Bureau of Special Education Appeals FAPE: Free and Appropriat…

DESE: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
IEP: Individualized Education Plan
IEE: Independent Educational Evaluation
SELP: Special Education Learning Plan
BSEA: Bureau of Special Education Appeals
FAPE: Free and Appropriate Public Education

 

Find a Letter of Finding

Scroll down to see letters organized by issue category and district, or click here to see all letters of finding. These may be helpful to you in building your own case when filing a PRS complaint.

Letters by Issue Category

Letters by District

Abington Public Schools

Agawam Public Schools

Amherst-Pelham Regional School District

Arlington Public Schools

Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District

Athol-Royalston Regional School District

Attleboro Public School District

Bedford

Belmont Public Schools

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School

Billerica

Bolton

Boston

Boston Preparatory Charter School

Bourne Public Schools

Boxford Public Schools

Bridgewater-Raynham

Brookline Public Schools

Cambridge Public Schools

Chelmsford Public Schools

Clinton Public Schools

Concord

Dartmouth

Dennis-Yarmouth

Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools

Dracut

Duxbury

East Bridgewater Public Schools

Fairhaven Public Schools

Fall River Public Schools

Falmouth Public Schools

Fitchburg Public Schools

Framingham Public Schools

Frontier Regional-Union 38/Sunderland

Gardner

Greenfield

Hadley

Hanover

Hamilton-Wenham Public Schools

Hampden-Wilbraham

Hingham

Holbrook

Holliston

Ipswich

Kingston

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School District

Lynn Public Schools

Malden

Marlborough Public Schools

Mashpee Public Schools

Maynard

Medford Public Schools

Medway Public Schools

Melrose

Methuen Public Schools

Middleborough

Milford Public Schools

Milton Public Schools

Monomoy Regional School District

Mount Greylock Regional School District

Nashoba Regional

New Bedford Public Schools

Newton Public Schools

Northampton Public Schools

Northbridge Public Schools

North Dighton

North Middlesex Regional School District

Norwell Public Schools

Pentucket Regional School District

Pembroke Public Schools

Plymouth Public Schools

Quaboag Regional School District

Ralph C. Mahar & Union 73 Regional School District

Silver Lake Regional School District

South Hadley

Springfield

Stoneham Public Schools

Swansea Public Schools

Taunton Public Schools

TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School

Tewksbury Public Schools

Wachusett Regional

Waltham Public Schools

Wareham Public Schools

Westfield Public Schools

Westborough Public Schools

Westport Public Schools

Weston Public Schools

Weymouth

Whately Public Schools

Winchester Public Schools

Worcester