This guide presents the Massachusetts eligibility guidelines to qualify a school age child with special needs to receive special education services. The guidelines are intended to aid in determining what a disability is and the relationship of the disability to determining whether the child is "unable to progress effectively in regular education." The guidelines also explain the role of the assessment process. After an introduction, the first section focuses on the role of the educational system in meeting the needs of all students. It discusses student development, curriculum and instructional practice, prereferral strategies, professional development, and family education and involvement. The next section focuses on the specifics of eligibility determination and covers: (1) assessing the student within regular education; (2) special considerations in assessing young children, children with different linguistic/cultural backgrounds, children with chronic health problems, and children involved with social service agencies or the courts; (3) definitions; (4) the relationship between disability and the inability to progress effectively in regular education; and (5) reaching a decision about eligibility for special education. The last section considers placement decisions in the context of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Appendices provide lists of regular education resources (containing 17 references), assessment responsibilities under Chapter 766 regulations, and evaluation safeguards. (DB)