MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION
Program Quality Assurance Services
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Charter School or District: Acushnet
CPR Onsite Year: 2012-2013
Program Area: Special Education
All corrective action must be fully implemented and all noncompliance
corrected as soon as possible and no later than one year from the issuance
of the Coordinated Program Review Final Report dated 04/30/2013.
Mandatory One-Year Compliance Date: 04/29/2013
Summary of Required Corrective Action Plans in this Report
Criterion
SE 8
Criterion Title
IEP Team composition and attendance
SE 32
Parent advisory council for special education
SE 56
Special education programs and services are evaluated
CPR Rating
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
SE 8 IEP Team composition and attendance
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
Interviews indicate that at annual review IEP Team meetings, chairpersons are not able to
commit the resources of the district when the special education director is not in
attendance. The special education director attends initial IEP Team meetings and
reevaluation IEP Team meetings, but is generally not in attendance at annual review IEP
Team meetings.
Description of Corrective Action:
Since December, 2012 when the Exit Interview conducted by the state auditors, staff
training has addressed confirming teacher and specialist ability to commit resources at
Team meetings. Monthly staff Meeting agendas since that time have included the
discussion, clear explanation and expectations of Team members to appropriately allocate
resources, and services for students, with or without administrators in attendance. The
addition of this ability will be added to the district Special Education Procedural Manual,
and will be part of the Annual Mandatory staff training conducted on the first day of the
new school year.
Title/Role(s) of responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Director of Special Education
Completion:
Nance P. Bellizzi
10/01/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
Staff Meeting Agendas
Procedural Manual Entry
Mandatory Training Notes
Interview by staff will reflect knowledge of their ability to commit resources
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
> Consistent review of IEPs and related documents (ie N-1 Letters), by the Director of
Special Education, will occur to assure liaisons are displaying the ability to plan effectively
with educational teams for all of their students' needs.
> Communication with staff to monitor their effective facilitation of meetings.
> Update and maintain the Procedural Manual to reflect staff's ability to commit
resources.
> Include IEP team planning suggestions and strategies during monthly Staff meetings.
> Parent Survey to include questions related to Team planning
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
SE 8 IEP Team composition and
Status Date: 05/24/2013
attendance
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
By September 30, 2013, submit evidence of training to special education staff on these
requirements; include the agenda, training date, signed attendance sheets indicating the
title/role of staff and the name and title of the presenter.
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
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By January 17, 2014, submit a report of the results of an internal review of records
conducted after the training to determine compliance; include the number of student
records reviewed, the number of records in compliance and for any records not in
compliance, determine the root cause(s) of the non-compliance and the district's plan to
remedy the non-compliance.
*Please note when conducting internal monitoring, the district must maintain the
following documentation and make it available to the Department upon request: a) List of
student names and grade levels for the records reviewed; b) Date of the review; c) Name
of person(s) who conducted the review, with their role(s) and signature(s).
Progress Report Due Date(s):
09/30/2013
01/17/2014
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Acushnet CPR Corrective Action Plan
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COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
SE 32 Parent advisory council for special education
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
Interviews indicate that the Acushnet/Fairhaven Special Education Parent Advisory Council
(AFSEPAC) has not participated in the planning, development, or evaluation of the school
district's special education programs.
Description of Corrective Action:
Acushnet will continue to partner with Fairhaven Public Schools to hold meetings and
present timely, topic specific information to parents. We will seek parent input with
respect to staff professional development and training opportunities for all stakeholders in
our professional learning communities.
Collaboration will continue with the Special Education director from Fairhaven, and
discussion has been extensive with respect to increasing parent participation in the PAC.
Currently, attendance at quarterly nightly meetings has dropped.
At the Acushnet School Committee meeting held on May 7, 2013, the Acushnet Director of
Special Education presented the Final CPR Report to the officials. At that time, she
addressed the television viewing audience and utilized the venue to explain that all
parents, including students with and without disabilities are invited to participate in the
PAC meetings. Attendance was encouraged for the upcoming June meeting and future
meetings to assist with the districts' planning of staff and parent training.
Title/Role(s) of responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Director of Special Education
Completion:
Nance P. Bellizzi
04/01/2014
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
> Increased family involvement in the PAC activities
> Increased attendance at quarterly PAC meetings
> Completion of parent survey, including questions related to PAC
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
> Documentation of meeting attendance
> Documentation of parent influence/input toward staff development, department
procedures
> Review results of parent surveys and implement appropriate suggestions
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
SE 32 Parent advisory council for special
Status Date: 05/24/2013
education
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
By January 17, 2014, submit evidence indicating that the PAC is participating in the
planning, development and evaluation of the district's special education programs. Provide
documentation of meeting dates, agendas and attendance.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
01/17/2014
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Acushnet CPR Corrective Action Plan
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COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
SE 56 Special education programs and services are evaluated
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
Interviews and documentation review indicate that special education programs and
services are not evaluated regularly.
Description of Corrective Action:
The Director of Special Education of Acushnet will contract an outside agency who
specializes in the evaluation of special education departments. This comprehensive
assessment of programs, procedures and policies has been scheduled to be conducted by
James Shillinglaw of Walker Partnerships during the last week of September, 2013.
Title/Role(s) of responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Director of Special Education
Completion:
Nance P.Bellizzi
10/01/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
A formal report depicting findings will be presented to the superintendent and school
committee upon its completion.
These results will also be submitted as part of the CAP Progress Report for PQA.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
Findings and suggestions from this program evaluation will be reviewed and discussed
during district meetings. Modifications to existing procedures will be considered, as well as
the introduction of new practices or elimination of ineffective actions currently in place.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
SE 56 Special education programs and
Status Date: 05/24/2013
services are evaluated
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Submit the special education program and services evaluation.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
01/17/2014
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Acushnet CPR Corrective Action Plan
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MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
Charter School or District: Acushnet Public Schools
Corrective Action Plan Forms
Program Area: English Learner Education
Prepared by: Nance P. Bellizzi
CAP Form will expand to as many lines as necessary. Before completing and emailing to
pqacap@doe.mass.edu, please see separate Instructions for Completing Corrective Action Plans.
All corrective action must be fully implemented and all noncompliance corrected as soon as
possible and no later than one year from the issuance of the Coordinated Program Review Final
Report to the school or district.
Mandatory One-Year Compliance Date: December 5, 2014
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: ELE 5
Rating: Partially Implemented
Program Placement and Structure
Department CPR Finding: Documentation provided indicated the district utilizes the ELL component
of a reading intervention program as an ESL curriculum. Reading intervention curricula help the
students improve their reading skills, but does not provide explicit, direct and systematic instruction to
learn English language. Therefore, it cannot be used as a substitute for an ESL curriculum. All
districts are expected to develop an ESL curriculum. Documentation also indicated that the district had
a plan in place at the time of the onsite visit to review or develop a plan for integrating WIDA
standards into content area curricula. However, based on the documentation submitted there is no
indication showing that they have such a plan to develop an ESL curriculum integrating WIDA
standards
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: Purchase ESL Curriculum
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Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Implementation: ELL Coordinator/Nance P.
Bellizzi, Tim Plante, Principal, Chris Green,
Principal, Stephen Donovan, Superintendent

Expected Date of Completion for
Each Corrective Action Activity:
Incumbent core academic teachers of ELLs
(referred to as "SEI teachers" in the rest of
this memorandum) who are assigned to a
cohort 3 for SEI training during the period
covering SY 2013 through SY 2016, will
obtain the SEI endorsement in order to
renew, advance, or extend their license,
subject to a hardship exception. The same is
true of principals/assistant principals and
supervisors/directors who evaluate or
supervise these teachers (referred to as "SEI
administrators").
As of July 1, 2016, every SEI teacher and
SEI administrator will either hold the SEI
endorsement or obtain it within one year of
assignment.
In addition to the SEI endorsement, as of
July 1, 2016, every licensed educator will
earn at least 15 Professional Development
Points (PDPs) related to SEI or English as a
Second Language, and at least 15 PDPs
related to training in strategies for effective
schooling for students with disabilities and
instruction of students with diverse learning
styles, in order to be eligible to renew his or
her license.
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
ELL Curriculum materials will be purchased and available to staff. Training with respect to the
implementation of the curriculum will align with the RETELL requirements for teacher training. Staff
will complete course work and relevant training to implement ESL curriculum based upon WIDA
standards. Agendas of topic-specific training, attendance sheets, and meeting minutes will provide
evidence that training occurred and with which staff members. Curriculum meetings for planning and
monitoring of instruction, as well as curriculum maps and unit and daily lesson plans.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: ESL Curriculum implementation will be an integral
part of the Educator Evaluation System and as such administrative observations of instructional staff
will include monitoring for evidence of ESL imbedded instruction. District monitoring of all staff’s
participation and completion of necessary coursework will be a coordinated by all district
administrators.
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
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CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: ELE 5
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
The district committed to purchasing ESL curricular materials that align to the WIDA standards. The
WIDA ELD standards became the new English proficiency standards in June 2012 and the districts are
expected to integrate the WIDA standards into ESL and content area curricula for classes where ELLs
participate. Although purchased materials can be used as resources, they cannot replace the curriculum
districts are expected to develop based on WIDA standards. This curriculum will reflect the content to
be taught and address the instructional needs of the ELL population at all levels. Therefore the district
should provide the Department with information about the process of developing ESL/ELD curriculum
that integrates the WIDA standards as well as the timeline for implementation.
Department Order of Corrective Action: N/A
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Submit a plan that includes information about a process for developing ESL curriculum that integrates
WIDA ELD standards.
Progress Report Due Date(s): May 16, 2014
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: ELE 6
Rating: Partially Implemented
Program Exit and Readiness
Department CPR Finding: The Acushnet School Committee manual and “ELL Services Entrance
Procedures” submitted by the district indicated that the determination as to whether to reclassify a
student is based on multiple criteria including ACCESS, W-APT and MCAS results. However, there is
no information provided regarding what the district’s policy is to interpret these assessment results.
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: ACCESS testing results will be interpreted in a similar
manner that MCAS scores are now analyzed. That is administrators will meet with each grade level
team, shortly after receiving test results, to review student performance scores in Listening, Speaking,
Writing and Reading, in order to formulate effective educational plans. Results will become part of the
district’s child study team process (STAT) and grade level teachers will review W-APT ACCESS and
MCAS data as part of student progress during a scheduled weekly staff meeting.
At these meetings, determination will be made relative to the reclassification of students and their
eligibility to receive ELL services. Information will be documented in the students’ cum file.
Appropriate written communication to parents of district decisions will be sent by the ELL
Coordinator’s office in a timely manner. Parents will continue to be offered the option of refusal of
services via a consent form.
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
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Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Timothy Plante, Principal
Corrective Action Activity: 09/2014
Acushnet Elementary School, Christopher Green,
Principal, Ford Middle School, Classroom teachers,
Special Education teachers, and ESL staff.
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Plans will be evident for students in need of direct
ESL instruction, and/or classroom considerations based upon the WIDA standards.
Student files will contain W-APT, ACCESS and MCAS results along with any appropriate service
plans. Minute meetings taken during the weekly STAT meetings will be logged and documented by the
ELL Coordinator. Copies of parent letters will be kept as part of student records.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: ELE 6
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
The narrative description of the corrective action includes a detailed plan the district will follow to
review relevant data to determine the student’s language classification. However, there is still no
information provided regarding what the district’s policy is or will be to interpret the data. Please see
the Department’s transitional language classification recommendations based on ACCESS for ELLs
results found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/TransitionalGuidance.pdf
Department Order of Corrective Action: N/A
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Please submit the district’s program exit criteria showing that:
a- The district does not reclassify ELL students as former limited English proficient (FLEP) until
he or she is deemed English proficient and can participate meaningfully in all aspects of the
district’s general education program without the use of adopted or simplified English materials;
and
b- The district does not limit or cap the amount of time in which an ELL student can remain in a
language support program.
Progress Report Due Date(s): May 16, 2014
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: ELE 10
Rating: Partially Implemented
Parental Notification
Department CPR Finding: Record review and interviews indicate that the district initially informs
parents of the student’s identification as ELL, proficiency level, and instructional placement via the
parent notification letter. However, the review of records indicates only some records contained copies
of the parent notification letter, and annual notification was also not consistently evident in the student
records. Report cards and progress reports for ELL students are not consistently maintained in the
student record.
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Narrative Description of Corrective Action: ELL records procedures have begun to be revised to
insure that all notifications to parents are documented appropriately. Part of these efforts will be to
utilize an automated, online system of student record keeping, such as SemsTracker, which affords the
district reporting opportunities as well as timeline reminders.
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Nance P. Bellizzi, ELL
Corrective Action Activity: 09/2014
Coordinator
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Students considered to be ELL will be part of the
online system of reporting. A review of student records will reveal that appropriate procedures have
been followed based upon the forms within each student file.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: Report creation from the automated system will
indicate the steps followed for students’ ELL plans. Special education secretaries will closely monitor
the ELL forms processing in a very similar manner that they effectively monitor IEP form processing.
By November 30, 2014, due to the small population of ESL students, all records will be reviewed for
evidence of the parent notification form.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: ELE 10
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s): By May 16, 2014, submit the results of an internal review
of records of current ELL students to determine whether records contain required documentation,
including the parent notification letter, progress reports and report cards. Indicate the number of student
records reviewed, the number of records in compliance and for any records not in compliance,
determine the root cause(s) of the non-compliance and the district's plan to remedy the noncompliance.
*Please note when conducting internal monitoring, the district must maintain the
following documentation and make it available to the Department upon request: a) List of
student names and grade levels for the records reviewed; b) Date of the review; c) Name
of person(s) who conducted the review, with their role(s) and signature(s).
Progress Report Due Date(s): May 16, 2014
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: ELE 14
Rating: Partially Implemented
Licensure Requirements
Department CPR Finding: The district reports on the documentation that ESL instruction is provided
to ELL students by a licensed ESL teacher. However, neither the name nor the license information for
the ESL teacher(s) is provided. Therefore, there is no indication showing that the district has an ELE
program consistent with G.L. c. 71A, §§ 2 and 4.
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Narrative Description of Corrective Action: An updated license was provided to the DESE as part of
the CPR and will be attached to this report.
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Nance P. Bellizzi
Corrective Action Activity: 01/17/2014
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Document will be evident in CAP.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: As part of the district’s monitoring of instructional
staff, the ELL educator’s certification will be reviewed as re-certification dates occur.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: ELE 14
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
The license provided by the district shows that ESL instruction in the district is delivered by a teacher
who holds a Bilingual Elementary (K-8) license, not an ESL license. The district should note that ESL
instruction consistent with Chapter 71A can only be delivered by an ESL licensed teacher.
Department Order of Corrective Action: N/A
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Provide evidence of the licensure of the current ESL teacher(s) by the progress report due date. To the
extent the teacher(s) who delivers ESL instruction is not yet licensed, provide a report of the program
director’s monitoring of the teacher’s progress toward certification throughout the 2013-2014 school
year until the licensure is secured, and a copy of any job posting and application information that may
remain on file in the event the currently uncertified teacher fails to acquire proper certification by Fall
2014.
Progress Report Due Date(s): May 16, 2014
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: ELE 18
Rating: Partially Implemented
Records of LEP Students
Department CPR Finding: Review of ELL student records indicates that home language surveys and
parent notification letters are inconsistently maintained in those files.
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: Home Language Surveys will be filed in each ELL
student file. HLS are collected from new families by building administrators at the beginning of each
school year, as well as when new students transition in during the year. HLS, received by parents,
requesting another language are given to the ELL coordinator.
Following the effective procedures that were commended in the district’s recent PQA with respect to
IEP record keeping, this process will be put into place for our ELL population.
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Tim Plante, Principal,
Corrective Action Activity: 01/17/2014
Christopher Green, Principal, Nance Bellizzi, ELL
Coordinator
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Student reviews of files will reveal HLS.
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Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: Principals will coordinate with the ELL coordinator
on a regular basis to insure ELL student records, and evidence of parent notification is consistently
occurring. Special Education secretaries will monitor the student files for appropriate forms and
documentation and correlate with the automated system.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: ELE 18
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval:
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s): By May 16, 2014, submit the results of an internal review
of records of current ELL students to determine whether records contain required documentation
including the home language survey and current parent notification letter. Indicate the number of
student records reviewed, the number of records in compliance and for any records not in compliance,
determine the root cause(s) of the non-compliance and the district's plan to remedy the noncompliance.
*Please note when conducting internal monitoring, the district must maintain the
following documentation and make it available to the Department upon request: a) List of
student names and grade levels for the records reviewed; b) Date of the review; c) Name
of person(s) who conducted the review, with their role(s) and signature(s).
Progress Report Due Date(s): May 16, 2014
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Acushnet CPR Corrective Action Plan
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