Every Child Accountability & Tracking System (ECATS)
Overview
The Exceptional Children Accountability Tracking System (ECATS) is a case management and reporting application consisting of two integrated modules: Special Education and Service Documentation. The Special Education module of ECATS is part of the state's Uniform Education Reporting System (UERS).
NCDPI oversees all PK-13 Educational Institutions in North Carolina. As part of this oversight, the Office of Exceptional Children (OEC) is responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities are supported in their intellectual, physical, emotional, and vocational development through the implementation of individualized education programs (IEPs) in the least restrictive environment.
In accordance with federal regulations, states must collect, maintain, and report data on students with disabilities to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
More information on ESSA can be found at the U.S. Department of Education’s ESSA website.
The full text of ESSA is available at S.1177 - Every Student Succeeds Act.
Information on IDEA is available at 20 U.S.C. 1400 and at the U.S. Department of Education’s IDEA website.
ECATS complies with federal regulations and facilitates data extraction for reporting needs, including submissions to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the State Performance Plan (SPP), Annual Progress Report (APR), and State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP).
Additional information on OSEP can be found at the U.S. Department of Education OSEP website.
Resources for early childhood special education are available at the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center).
Further details on North Carolina’s SPP and APR can be found on the NC Public Schools Data and State Performance Plans portion of the Exceptional Children’s website.
ECATS Phase II Office Hours Webinar
ECATS Phase II SIS Implementation Office Hours: Tips and Tricks - 06/17/2025
Password: 86GvwBex
ECATS Phase II Office Hours PowerPoint:
ECATS Phase II SIS Implementation Office Hours: Tips and Tricks - 06/17/2025