Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
March 19, 2010
Mary A. Czajkowski, Ed.D
Superintendent
Agawam Public Schools
1305 Springfield Street, Suite 1
Feeding Hills, MA 01030-2198
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Czajkowski:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district in February 2010. In this Midcycle Review the Department monitored selected special education criteria to determine
your district’s compliance with special education laws and regulations. The review
consisted of information gathered from one or more of the following activities: staff
interviews, review of student records, examination of documentation, and/or classroom
observation.
We are pleased to tell you that the Department has found your district to be in compliance
with all of the criteria monitored in your district during the Mid-cycle Review. The
findings of the Department are included in the enclosed report. You and your entire staff
are to be congratulated for your success in implementing the requirements included in
these criteria.
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled Coordinated
Program Review (CPR) several months before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate
that this CPR will occur sometime during the 2013 unless the Department determines that
there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have
questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Tom
1
Hidalgo at 413 858-4591.
Sincerely,
Tom Hidalgo, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
cc:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education
D. Beth Lopez, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Richard A. Cohen, Mayor/Chairperson
John Provost, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report form
Rev.12-09
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Agawam Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: February 22, 2010
Date of this Report: March 19, 2010
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Required Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
SE 3
Special
requirements
for the
determination
of specific
learning
disability

Student
record review
and interview
Student record reviews and
interview indicated that the district
is appropriately evaluating students
suspected of having a specific
learning disability. Written
documentation was evident in the
student records.
Agawam Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 19, 2010
Page 1 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
review and
interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Document reviews and interview
indicated the district has one
educational interpreter and that
person is registered with the
Massachusetts Commission for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Agawam Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 19, 2010
Page 2 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Additional Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
SE 32
Parent
advisory
council
for special
education
SE 55
Special
education
facilities
and
classrooms
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Interview,
document
review
The district is meeting requirements
to offer membership on the parent
advisory council to all parents of
children with disabilities and other
interested parties. All special
education parents are contacted
electronically and by phone to
remind them of meetings; an ad hoc
committee of the school committee
met with the PAC to discuss
membership requirements and a
new PAC president was elected.
Observations
at all
elementary
schools and
review of
floor plans
A tour of all four elementary
schools and a review of floor plans
indicated that special education in
the district is provided in
classrooms and facilities that
maximize the inclusion of such
students into the life of the school;
provide accessibility in order to
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Agawam Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 19, 2010
Page 3 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
fully implement each student’s IEP;
are at least equal in all physical
respects to the average standards of
general facilities and classrooms;
and are given the same priority in
the allocation of instructional and
other space in order to minimize the
separation or stigmatization of
eligible students.
Agawam Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 19, 2010
Page 4 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements