Twenty-eight of about 50 state approved private special education residential schools had at least one residence investigated and found in 2016 to be non-compliant with Department of Early Education and Care regulations for residential care facilities. The New England Center for Investigative Reporting paid $2,400 for redacted reports that took a year for the state to provide. Legislation has been proposed in the Massachusetts state house to make it easier to obtain records of abuse and neglect at public and private schools.