NEW RESOURCE:

A Practical Guide to Understanding Massachusetts Special Education Regulations and Legal Decisions

Finally - a clear, practical guide to Massachusetts special education law.
Written for the people who work with students every day.
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Overview

Navigating Massachusetts special education regulations shouldn't require a law degree. This comprehensive guide brings clarity to a complex landscape — covering state requirements, federal IDEA provisions, and real legal decisions made by Massachusetts hearing officers and court judges.


Whether you're coming to this resource in the middle of an IEP meeting or working to deepen your foundational understanding, A Practical Guide to Understanding Massachusetts Special Education Regulations and Legal Decisions meets you where you are.

Inside, you'll find:

  • Plain-language explanations of referral processes, IEP development, placement options, and parent involvement
  • Relevant case law and its real-world impact on how regulations are applied in practice
  • Accessible visuals throughout to support understanding
  • Practical application to everyday scenarios you actually encounter
  • Resources to strengthen your partnership throughout the IEP process
This guide works as both a quick-reference tool for in-the-moment questions and a comprehensive text for those who want a deeper grounding in special education law in Massachusetts.
WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
  • A general or special education teacher
  • A school or district administrator
  • A family member or caregiver of a student with disabilities
  • An advocate or attorney
  • A related service provider (OT, PT, SLP, and others)
  • A graduate student in education or special education law
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MEET THE AUTHORS

Allan S. Blume, Ed.S. brings more than 40 years of experience as a special education teacher, Associate Professor of Practice, and consultant to over 200 school districts across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. He is the founder and CEO of The Blume Method™, a structured approach to writing Individualized Education Programs.

Laurel A. Peltier, M.A., C.A.G.S., Ed.D. is a licensed special education administrator, trained advocate, and mediator whose work has centered on inclusive education and collaborative IEP development. She is co-author of Responsive Collaboration for IEP and 504 Teams (Corwin Publishing, 2022).

Jan Hollenbeck, OT, OTD, OTR, FAOTA is a licensed special education administrator and occupational therapist with over 40 years of experience, and the owner and co-founder of PASS. She is first author of the Guidelines for Provision of Occupational Therapy in Massachusetts Schools and co-editor of Foundations of Pediatric Practice for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, 3rd Ed.

Together, Blume, Peltier, and Hollenbeck are recognized statewide leaders in training Massachusetts special education professionals — and they've brought that depth of experience to every page of this guide.

Allan S. Blume, Ed.S. brings more than 40 years of experience as a special education teacher, Associate Professor of Practice, and consultant to over 200 school districts across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. He is the founder and CEO of The Blume Method™, a structured approach to writing Individualized Education Programs.

Laurel A. Peltier, M.A., C.A.G.S., Ed.D. is a licensed special education administrator, trained advocate, and mediator whose work has centered on inclusive education and collaborative IEP development. She is co-author of Responsive Collaboration for IEP and 504 Teams (Corwin Publishing, 2022).

Jan Hollenbeck, OT, OTD, OTR, FAOTA is a licensed special education administrator and occupational therapist with over 40 years of experience, and the owner and co-founder of PASS. She is first author of the Guidelines for Provision of Occupational Therapy in Massachusetts Schools and co-editor of Foundations of Pediatric Practice for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, 3rd Ed.

Together, Blume, Peltier, and Hollenbeck are recognized statewide leaders in training Massachusetts special education professionals — and they've brought that depth of experience to every page of this guide.

This is the resource practitioners have needed. Now it's here.
 access the book