A local education agency (LEA) is the public board of education or other public authority that has administrative control of public elementary or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other local area. In most places, the LEA is simply your school district. In special education, the LEA is the agency legally responsible for finding, evaluating, and serving children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). You will often see "LEA" on IEP paperwork, most commonly next to the name of the LEA representative who attends IEP meetings.
What is a local education agency under IDEA?
The federal special education regulations define the term in 34 CFR 300.28. A local educational agency is a public board of education or other public authority legally set up within a state to control or direct public elementary or secondary schools, or to perform a service function for them. The definition also includes:
- A combination of school districts or counties that the state recognizes as an administrative agency for its public schools.
- Educational service agencies, which are regional public bodies that provide special education or related services to several districts. Depending on the state, these may be called intermediate units, BOCES, education service centers, or county offices of education.
- Other public institutions or agencies that have administrative control of a public elementary or secondary school, including a public charter school that is established as an LEA under state law.
- Schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, to the extent described in the regulation.
Both spellings, "local education agency" and "local educational agency," are used. The federal law uses "local educational agency," while many state and school websites shorten it to local education agency. They mean the same thing.
LEA vs. SEA: local and state roles
The state educational agency (SEA) is the state department or board of education that supervises all public schools in the state (34 CFR 300.41). The SEA receives IDEA Part B funds from the U.S. Department of Education, passes most of that money to LEAs, writes state special education rules, handles state complaints, and monitors districts for compliance. It is also rated each year by the federal government under Results Driven Accountability.
The LEA is where services actually happen. It runs the schools, hires the teachers and related service providers, holds IEP meetings, and delivers the program in each child's IEP. If the LEA does not follow the law, the SEA has general supervision responsibility and must make sure problems are corrected.
What does a local education agency do in special education?
Under IDEA, the LEA carries the day-to-day legal responsibilities for students with disabilities who live in or attend school in its area. These include:
- Child Find. Identifying, locating, and evaluating all children with disabilities who may need special education, including homeless children and children in private schools located in the district.
- Evaluations and eligibility. Conducting initial evaluations and reevaluations and deciding eligibility with the parents.
- IEPs and FAPE. Developing, reviewing, and carrying out an IEP for each eligible child, so the child receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment.
- Procedural safeguards. Giving parents notices, such as prior written notice (called a NOREP in Pennsylvania), and respecting their procedural safeguards.
- Funding. Using its share of federal IDEA funds to supplement, not replace, state and local special education funding, and meeting "maintenance of effort" rules that keep local spending from dropping. The LEA also sets aside a proportionate share of its IDEA funds for equitable services to children placed in private schools by their parents, which may be written in an individual service plan.
- Reporting. Collecting data for the state, which reviews each LEA's performance every year.
Many LEAs also enroll as Medicaid providers, which lets them bill Medicaid for certain school-based health services, such as some therapies, provided to eligible students.
The LEA representative on the IEP team
Every IEP team must include a representative of the public agency, usually called the LEA representative (34 CFR 300.321(a)(4)). Federal rules say this person must be:
- Qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of, specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities.
- Knowledgeable about the general education curriculum.
- Knowledgeable about the availability of the agency's resources.
The U.S. Department of Education has explained that the LEA representative should have the authority to commit agency resources, so that the services written into the IEP will actually be provided. In practice the LEA representative is often a principal, assistant principal, special education coordinator, or special education supervisor. A district may name another team member, such as a special education teacher, as long as that person meets all three requirements.
The LEA representative can be excused from all or part of an IEP meeting only if the parent and the district agree in writing. If the meeting will discuss this member's area, the member must also submit written input before the meeting.
Charter schools as LEAs
Charter schools fit into special education in one of two ways, depending on state law (34 CFR 300.209):
- A charter school that is its own LEA is responsible for meeting IDEA requirements for its students, just like a school district, unless state law assigns that responsibility to another entity.
- A charter school that is part of an LEA is served by that district, which must provide services to its students in the same way it serves students in its other schools.
Either way, children with disabilities who attend public charter schools keep all their rights under IDEA. If your child attends a charter school, ask which agency is the LEA for special education, because that agency is responsible for evaluations and the IEP.
Frequently asked questions about the local education agency
Who is my local education agency?
For most families, it is the public school district where you live. If your child attends a charter school that is its own LEA, the charter school is responsible. Your state education agency's website usually lists every LEA in the state.
What is an LEA in PA?
In Pennsylvania, LEAs include school districts, charter and cyber charter schools, and, for some programs, intermediate units. Pennsylvania IEP forms list a "Local Education Agency (LEA) Representative" among the team members, and the LEA issues the NOREP.
Who can serve as an LEA at an IEP meeting?
Any district staff member who is qualified to provide or supervise specially designed instruction, knows the general curriculum, and knows what resources the district has. Principals and special education administrators are common choices.
Is a school district the same as an LEA?
Usually, yes. Every school district is an LEA, but not every LEA is a school district. Educational service agencies and some charter schools are LEAs too.
