How we reported this story

The Globe began reporting on this story in the summer of 2023, seeking special education regulations for a period of 10 years from every district in the state. Some complied immediately, others took months. Some charged a reasonable fee for their time, others provided public records free of charge. Still others sought to impose fees for settlements that the Globe deemed excessive. A large group said there was none. See below for more information.

The following districts told the Globe they did not maintain any establishment records for the requested period: Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical, Athol-Royalston, Avon, Berkley, Blackstone-Millville, Bristol County Agricultural, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical, Brookfield, Cape Cod Regional. Vocational Tech, East Bridgewater, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District, Franklin County Regional Vocational Tech, Gill-Montague, Greater Commonwealth Virtual District, Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Tech, Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Tech, Hancock, Hawlemont, Lee, Mendon -Upton, Minuteman Regional Vocational Technology, Mohawk Trail, Narragansett, North Adams, Norwood, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technology, Richmond, Southeast Regional Vocational Technology, Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District , Spencer-East Brookfield, Sutton, Truro, Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technology, Uxbridge, Ware, Whittier Regional Vocational Technology, Wrentham, Keefe Regional Technical School, North Berkshire School Union.

The following districts requested fees deemed unreasonable by the Globe: Belmont, Braintree, Brookline, Concord, Dudley-Charlton, Greenfield, Hampshire, Holliston, Masconomet, Medway, Newton, Old Rochester, Quaboag, Rockport, Somerville, Wachusett and Winchester. .

Questions about the files? Contact education reporter Mandy McLaren: [email protected].