Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 71b - Children With Special Needs
Section 4 - Agreements Between School Committees or With Public or Private Schools

Section 4. The school committee of any city, town or school district may, to meet its obligations under section three, with the approval of the department enter into an agreement with any other school committee to jointly provide special education or, subject to the consent of the parent or guardian affected thereby and subject to constitutional limitations, may enter into an agreement with any public or private school, agency, or institution to provide the necessary special education within the city, town or school district; provided, however, that every school committee, where feasible, shall be associated with an educational collaborative providing services to children with a disability which disability occurs in a low incidence in the population of children requiring special education.
In the case of an agreement between school committees to jointly provide special education, said agreement shall designate one city, town or school district as the operating agent. Funds received by such operating agent from other cities, towns or school districts or appropriated by such operating agent for the purposes of such agreement, in addition to gifts and grants shall be deposited with and held as a separate account by its treasurer. The school committee may apply said funds to the costs of programs operated pursuant to the agreement without further appropriation.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XII - Education

Chapter 71b - Children With Special Needs

Section 1 - Definitions

Section 2 - Regulations; Special Education Programs; Pre-School Level Admission to Programs; Assignment of Child

Section 2a - Bureau of Special Education Appeals; Duties; Director; Supervision; Standards for Dispute Resolution; Confidentiality; Hearing Officers; Memorandum of Understanding; Bureau of Special Education Appeals Advisory Council

Section 3 - Identification of School Age Children With a Disability; Diagnosis of Disability; Proposal of Program; Evaluations and Assessments of Child and Program

Section 3a - Administrator of Special Education; Duties; Joint Appointment

Section 4 - Agreements Between School Committees or With Public or Private Schools

Section 5 - Costs or Obligations; Payment; Budget

Section 5a - Special Education Reimbursement Program

Section 5b - Pooled Risk Program for Extraordinary and Unanticipated Special Education Costs

Section 5c - Zero Interest Loan Program for Extraordinary and Unanticipated Special Education Costs

Section 6 - Assignment of Children to Classes; Annual Report; Equal Educational Opportunities; Prima Facie Denial; Hearings; Injunctive or Other Relief

Section 7 - Tests for Selection of Children for Referral, Diagnosis, or Evaluation

Section 8 - Transportation to and From School; Reimbursement to Parents

Section 9 - Department to Define Circumstances Requiring Special Education Programs and to Provide Standards

Section 9a - Workshop Curriculum; Parent Advisory Committee

Section 10 - Referral of Children to Institutions Within or Without the Commonwealth on Annual Renewal Basis Upon Request; Requisites; Expenses and Cost

Section 11a - Incarcerated Children With a Disability; Special Education

Section 12 - School Departments; Establishment; Administration; Staff; Operation; Expenditures; Costs of Education

Section 12a - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 12a to 12c

Section 12b - Bureau of Transitional Planning; Transitional Advisory Committee; Establishment

Section 12c - Continuing Habilitative Services; Eligibility; Transitional Plan; Rules and Regulations

Section 16 - Students With Disabilities; Participation in High School Graduation Ceremonies and Activities Without Award of High School Diploma