SPECIAL EDUCATION INSIGHTS

When You Know More,
You Can Ask Better Questions.

Practical guidance from Maureen Brown on IEPs, special education advocacy, BSEA decisions, therapeutic placement, college transition, and the questions families don't always know to ask.

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Recent Insights From Maureen

Practical guidance on IEPs, advocacy, placement, transition, and the decisions families are facing right now.

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Burlington & Carter: The Two Court Cases Every Special-Needs Parent Should Know

Blog Summary: Understanding the Burlington & Carter Decisions

The Burlington (1985) and Carter (1993) Supreme Court cases are the foundation of every parent’s right to seek district-funded private special-education placements when a public school fails to provide an appropriate IEP. In Burlington, the Court ruled that parents may place their child in a private school and receive reimbursement if the district’s IEP is inappropriate and the private placement meets the child’s needs. Carter expanded this right by holding that reimbursement may be required even if the private school is not state-approved. Together, these decisions ensure that when a school district cannot provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), parents can pursue the program that truly works for their child—without being limited to district-preferred or state-approved options. Burlington and Carter empower families to advocate for meaningful progress, safety, and individualized support when the public system falls short.

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MASSACHUSETTS BSEA DECISIONS

BSEA Decisions, Without the Legal Jargon.

When a special education dispute in Massachusetts reaches the Bureau of Special Education Appeals, the decisions can tell families a lot about how hearing officers look at evidence, placement, evaluations, stay-put rights, district obligations, and FAPE. Maureen breaks down selected BSEA decisions in plain language so you can understand what happened, why the hearing officer ruled the way they did, and what families can learn from the case.

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BSEA Decision Summaries Summer Decisions
IEPs & Special Education Advocacy, Placement & District Funding, BSEA Decisions, College & Transition, Professional Insights
BSEA Decision Summaries Summer Decisions
IEPs & Special Education Advocacy, Placement & District Funding, BSEA Decisions, College & Transition, Professional Insights

BSEA Decisions from Summer 2026.

How parents can use it to determine how hearing officers make decisions.

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IEPs & Special Education Advocacy, Placement & District Funding, BSEA Decisions, College & Transition, Professional Insights
What This BSEA Ruling Teaches Every Family About Observations, Evidence, and the Cost of Cutting Corners
BSEA Decisions
What This BSEA Ruling Teaches Every Family About Observations, Evidence, and the Cost of Cutting Corners
BSEA Decisions

Why Parents Lost This BSEA Ruling | Special Education Advocate MA

A May 2026 BSEA decision against a Boston family shows why school observations and complete IEP evidence are essential. Massachusetts special education advocate explains.

/bsea-boston-public-schools-ruling-school-observation-iep-evidence

A May 2026 Bureau of Special Education Appeals decision in Student v. Boston Public Schools offers a hard lesson for families pursuing out-of-district therapeutic placements in Massachusetts. The parent had real concerns, retained independent experts, and fought for years — and still lost. The hearing officer's reasoning comes down to one critical gap: neither of the parent's experts had observed the student in the placement Boston was actually proposing.

Massachusetts special education advocate Maureen Brown breaks down why the case went to the district, what the IEP rejection pattern cost this family at hearing, and why observations of both the current and proposed placement are not optional steps in building a strong special education case. If your family is considering a therapeutic day placement or preparing for a BSEA hearing, this ruling has direct lessons for you

- What the BSEA Ruling in Student v. Boston Public Schools Actually Found

- Why Independent Expert Testimony Fell Short at Hearing

- The IEP Rejection Pattern That Hurt This Family's Case

- School Observations Are Not Optional in Massachusetts Special Education Disputes

- What Massachusetts Families Need to Know Before Filing for a BSEA Hearing

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BSEA Decisions
Why You Shouldn't Walk Into a BSEA Hearing Alone
BSEA Decisions
Why You Shouldn't Walk Into a BSEA Hearing Alone
BSEA Decisions

Parents fighting for their child's education deserve to walk into a BSEA hearing prepared. This article breaks down why going it alone is one of the biggest risks a family can take — and what to do if you have no other choice.

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BSEA Decisions
BSEA Decision Archive

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