The Special Education Observatory

Special education in Massachusetts

2024–25 school year · 377 districts reporting · 19 withheld for privacy

Students with IEPs

179,666

2.4% of the national total · 13th of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

Share of students

19.8%

4.4 points above the national rate · 5th of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

80% or more of the day in general education

67.0%

0.8 points below the national rate · 33rd of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

Less than 40% of the day in general education

13.5%

0.4 points above the national rate · 16th of 52

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 and Common Core of Data, 2024–25, via The Special Education Observatory.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count and Educational Environments (file specifications 002 and 089), district level, 2024–25.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Common Core of Data, district membership, 2024–25 (final).

PULSE, The Special Education Observatory. Data retrieved Sep 25, 2026. Free to share with citation.