Every Child Accountability & Tracking System (ECATS)
What is ECATS?
ECATS is a web-based application used by North Carolina public schools to manage and report data for students receiving Exceptional Children (EC) services. It consists of two integrated modules that together support the full lifecycle of special education case management.
Special Education Module
Manages the full Exceptional Children process from referral through annual review. Captures statewide EC data efficiently, reduces paperwork, and supports compliance with federal and state mandates. Used by NCDPI and all PK-13 public schools across North Carolina, the Special Education module of ECATS is part of the state's Uniform Education Reporting System (UERS).
Service Documentation Module
A dedicated platform for documenting IEP service delivery. Designed for practitioners and administrators alike, it supports compliant, secure record keeping with intuitive workflows and broad reporting options for program monitoring and quality improvement.
ECATS Value
Federal law requires states to collect, maintain, and report data on students with disabilities. ECATS is North Carolina’s tool for meeting those obligations while reducing the documentation burden on educators.
Key federal frameworks ECATS supports:
- ESSA: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
ECATS facilitates data extraction for required federal submissions, including:
- State Performance Plan (SPP)
- Annual Progress Report (APR)
- State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP)
These reports are submitted to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and drive accountability, improvement, and funding decisions at the federal level.
Federal Resources