Public school districts are required to provide programs and services for students with specialized educational needs.

A Special Education Department's programs and services must meet state and federal requirements. This involves both compliance and technical assistance functions.

Compliance functions include monitoring least restrictive environment compliance, administering due process system, providing mediation services, conducting complaint investigat​ions, approving policies and procedures, conducting focused and comprehensive reviews and approving nonpublic special education facilities.

Technical assistance functions involve providing information and guidance on promising practices in educating students with disabilities, including the operation of numerous statewide training and technical assistance initiatives, administering the comprehensive system of personnel development for special education and management of grant programs to schools for special education service delivery.​