MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION
Program Quality Assurance Services
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Charter School or District: Neighborhood House Charter (District)
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 08/24/2013.
Mandatory One-Year Compliance Date: 08/24/2014
Summary of Required Corrective Action Plans in this Report
Criterion
SE 9
CR 3
Criterion Title
Timeline for determination of eligibility and provision of
documentation to parent
Access to a full range of education programs
CR 8
Accessibility of extracurricular activities
CR 15
CR 21
Non-discriminatory administration of scholarships, prizes
and awards
Staff training regarding civil rights responsibilities
CR 24
Curriculum review
CR 25
Institutional self-evaluation
CPR Rating
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
Partially
Implemented
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
SE 9 Timeline for determination of eligibility and provision of
Partially Implemented
documentation to parent
Department CPR Findings:
A review of student records revealed that within forty five school working days after
receipt of the parent's written consent to an initial evaluation, the charter school does not
consistently determine whether the student is eligible for special education and does not
always provide to the parent either a proposed IEP and placement or a written
explanation of the finding of no eligibility.
Description of Corrective Action:
NHCS will train staff to ensure that within forty- five school working days after receipt of
the parent's written consent to an initial evaluation, they will consistently determine
whether the student is eligible for special education and provide to the parent either a
proposed IEP and placement or a written explanation of the finding of no eligibility.
Title/Role(s) of Responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Michelle Arons, Dean of Special Education and Student Support
Completion:
01/31/2014
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
Training agendas will be provided regarding the timelines for determining eligibility and
provision of documentation to parent. Documentation of ongoing internal reviews of
student records to monitor for compliance of timelines will be provided.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
Following training of staff, Dean of Special Education and Student Support will conduct file
reviews to ensure compliance with timelines for determining eligibility.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
SE 9 Timeline for determination of
eligibility and provision of documentation
to parent
Basis for Status Decision:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
Status Date: 09/25/2013
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Provide evidence of the staff training conducted regarding timelines for determination of
eligibility, including attendance (with name and role), agenda and any training materials.
This progress report is due October 31, 2013. Conduct an internal record review, post
training, of files in which Teams convened within 45 school working days after receipt of
the parent's written consent to an initial evaluation. Please provide an analysis of this
review to include the number of records reviewed and the number of records found to be
non-compliant. For any records found to be non-compliant, please provide an analysis of
the root cause(s) and any steps that the district has taken to remedy the non-compliance.
This progress report is due January 31, 2014. *Please note that when 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 record
review; b) Date of the review; c) Name of the person(s) who conducted the review, their
role(s), and their signatures.
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
2
Progress Report Due Date(s):
10/31/2013
01/31/2014
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
3
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
CR 3 Access to a full range of education programs
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
A review of the charter school's documents and policies regarding access to a full range of
education programs revealed that "gender identity" as a protected category was not
included.
Description of Corrective Action:
NHCS' documents and policies regarding access to a full range of educational programs
will be
updated to include ?gender identity? as a protected category.
Title/Role(s) of Responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Kate Scott, Interim Head of School
Completion:
10/31/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
The NHCS will submit updated documents and policies and will describe how they have
been distributed
The NHCS will submit updated documents and policies and will describe how they have
been distributed
and disseminated to various constituencies (parents, staff, families, etc.)
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
The Interim Head of School will oversee the work of Management Team, Administrative
Support Staff, and Human Resources Director to ensure that all documents and policies
are appropriately updated and
distributed by the expected completion date.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
CR 3 Access to a full range of education
programs
Basis for Status Decision:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
Status Date: 09/25/2013
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Provide evidence that gender identity as a protected class has been included in the
charter school's policy regarding access to a full range of education programs and has
been disseminated to parents and staff. This progress report is due October 31, 2013.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
10/31/2013
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
4
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
CR 8 Accessibility of extracurricular activities
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
A review of the charter school's documents and policies regarding accessibility of
extracurricular activities revealed that "gender identity" as a protected category was not
included.
Description of Corrective Action:
The NHCS? documents and policies regarding accessibility of extracurricular activities will
be updated to
include ?gender identity? as a protected category.
Title/Role(s) of Responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Kate Scott, Interim Head of School
Completion:
10/31/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
The NHCS will submit updated documents and policies and will describe how they have
been distributed
and disseminated to various constituencies (parents, staff, families, etc.)
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
The Interim Head of School will oversee the work of Management Team and
Administrative Support Staff
to ensure that all documents and policies are appropriately updated and distributed by the
expected
completion date.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
CR 8 Accessibility of extracurricular
activities
Basis for Status Decision:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
Status Date: 09/25/2013
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Provide evidence that gender identity as a protected class has been included in the
charter school's policy regarding accessibility of extracurricular activities and has been
disseminated to parents and staff. This progress report is due October 31, 2013.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
10/31/2013
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
5
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
CR 15 Non-discriminatory administration of scholarships, prizes
Partially Implemented
and awards
Department CPR Findings:
A review of the charter school's documents and policies regarding non-discriminatory
administration of scholarships, prizes and awards revealed that "gender identity" as a
protected category was not included.
Description of Corrective Action:
The NHCS? documents and policies regarding non-discriminatory administration of
scholarships, prizes,
and awards will be updated to include ?gender identity? as a protected category.
Title/Role(s) of Responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Kate Scott, Interim Head of School
Completion:
10/31/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
The NHCS will submit updated documents and policies and will describe how they have
been distributed
and disseminated to various constituencies (parents, staff, families, etc.)
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
The Interim Head of School will oversee the work of Management Team, Administrative
Support Staff,
and High School Placement Office to ensure that all documents and policies are
appropriately updated
and distributed by the expected completion date.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
CR 15 Non-discriminatory administration
of scholarships, prizes and awards
Basis for Status Decision:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
Status Date: 09/25/2013
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Provide evidence that gender identity as a protected class has been included in the
charter school's policy regarding non-discriminatory administration of scholarships, prizes,
and awards and has been disseminated to parents and staff. This progress report is due
October 31, 2013.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
10/31/2013
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
6
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
CR 21 Staff training regarding civil rights responsibilities
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
While the charter school was able to provide evidence of staff training regarding civil
rights responsibilities, a review of the documents and policies revealed that the
prevention of discrimination and harassment on the basis of "gender identity" was not
included in the training.
Description of Corrective Action:
The NHCS? staff training regarding civil rights responsibilities was updated for the start of
SY2013-14 to
include training regarding the prevention of discrimination and harassment on the basis of
?gender
identity?. All staff were trained prior to the start of this school year.
Title/Role(s) of Responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Kate Scott, Interim Head of School
Completion:
10/31/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
The NHCS will submit updated training documents from the beginning of the year staff
training as well as
a sign-in sheet indicating that all staff members have received this updated training.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
The Interim Head of School will work with the Human Resources Director to ensure that
new staff who
begin after the start of the school year receive the updated staff trainings and that all
staff receive the
updated training at the beginning of each future school year.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
CR 21 Staff training regarding civil rights
responsibilities
Basis for Status Decision:
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
Status Date: 09/25/2013
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Submit evidence of staff training regarding civil rights responsibilities that includes gender
identity as a protected class. Include the attendance (with name and role), agenda, and
any training materials. This progress report is due October 31, 2013.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
10/31/2013
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
7
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
CR 24 Curriculum review
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
A review of the charter school's documents indicated that while individual teachers review
educational materials for simplistic and demeaning generalizations, "gender identity" was
not included as one of the categories in the curriculum review.
Description of Corrective Action:
The NHCS? documents regarding the practice of individual teachers reviewing educational
materials for
simplistic and demeaning generalizations will be updated to include ?gender identity? as a
protected
category.
Title/Role(s) of Responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Kate Scott, Interim Head of School
Completion:
10/31/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
The NHCS will submit updated documents and policies and will describe how they have
been distributed
and disseminated to staff members.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
The Interim Head of School will oversee the work of Management Team to ensure that the
documentation
of this policy is appropriately updated and distributed by the expected completion date.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
CR 24 Curriculum review
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
Status Date: 09/25/2013
Basis for Status Decision:
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Provide evidence that curriculum review at the charter school will now include "gender
identity" as a protected class and that this updated information has been disseminated to
staff. This progress report is due October 31, 2013.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
10/31/2013
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
8
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
Criterion & Topic:
CPR Rating:
CR 25 Institutional self-evaluation
Partially Implemented
Department CPR Findings:
A review of documents and interviews revealed that the charter school does not evaluate
all aspects of its program annually to ensure that all students, regardless of race, color,
sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, limited English proficiency, sexual
orientation, disability, or housing status, have equal access to all programs, including
athletics and other extracurricular activities.
Description of Corrective Action:
The NHCS will update its systems and procedures to ensure that all aspects of the
program are annually
evaluated to ensure that all students, regardless of race, color sex, gender identity,
religion, national origin, limited English proficiency, sexual orientation, disability, or
housing status, have equal access to
all programs, including athletics and other extracurricular activities.
Title/Role(s) of Responsible Persons:
Expected Date of
Kate Scott, Interim Head of School
Completion:
04/04/2013
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action:
The NHCS will submit an official set of protocols to formalize existing practices regarding
the annual selfevaluation. The NHCS will also submit an updated self-evaluation.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures:
The Interim Head of School will oversee the work of Management Team to ensure that the
documentation
of this protocol is appropriately updated and that the self-evaluation is completed
according to the
protocol in future years.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
Criterion:
CR 25 Institutional self-evaluation
Corrective Action Plan Status: Approved
Status Date: 09/25/2013
Basis for Status Decision:
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Submit the protocols that will be used by the charter school for its civil rights institutional
self-evaluation. This progress report is due October 31, 2013. Using these protocols,
conduct a self-evaluation and submit its results. This progress report is due January 31,
2014.
Progress Report Due Date(s):
10/31/2013
01/31/2014
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
9
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE CHARTER SCHOOL
Corrective Action Plan Forms
Program Area: English Learner Education
Prepared by: Kate Scott, Executive Director, Neighborhood House Charter School
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: April 22, 2015
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Rating: Partially Implemented
Criterion & Topic: ELE 5 Program Placement &
Structure
Department CPR Finding: Documentation submitted by the district indicated that ELL students at
proficiency level two receive 1-1.5 hours of direct ESL instruction per day in grades K-4. Current
hours of ESL instruction for level two students are insufficient and, therefore, inconsistent with
Department guidelines. Please see the “Transitional Guidance on Identification, Assessment,
Placement, and Reclassification of English Language Learners August 2013” as found on
http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/guidance_laws.html.
Document review indicated that the district does not have an ESL curriculum used for direct ESL
instruction or a plan to develop one that is aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and
the WIDA ELD Standards. See the Department’s WIDA English Language Development Standards
Implementation Guide (Part I) at http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/wida/Guidance-p1.pdf
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: The Management Team will conduct a review of
current time scheduled for direct ESL instruction per day for all proficiency levels, with particular
attention given to students at proficiency level two. New internal guidelines will be created that are in
keeping with the August 2013 “Transitional Guidance on Identification, Assessment, Placement, and
Reclassification of English Language Learners.” Student and teacher schedules will be revised
accordingly.
The Management Team will research ESL curricula in use by other K – 8 charter and district schools.
In conjunction with the ESL teacher as well as other teacher leaders, the Management Team will select
an ESL curriculum to be used for direct ESL instruction. The ESL teacher will participate in any
training that might be necessary to implement the curriculum.
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
10
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Kate Scott, Executive Director;
Corrective Action Activity: October 15, 2014
Michelle Arons, Dean of Special Education and
Student Support
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Updated internal guidelines; student and teacher
schedules.
Review of ESL curricula in use at other schools; ESL curriculum purchased for use for direct ESL
instruction at NHCS.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: Dean of Special Education and Student Support will
review student schedules annually; Executive Director will sign-off on ESL curriculum.
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 can review ESL curricula in use at other schools or districts. However, purchased materials
cannot replace the curriculum districts are expected to develop based on WIDA standards even if they
can be used as resources. ESL curriculum should 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):
1) Please provide a detailed plan that shows that the district is providing sufficient ESL
instruction to all ELL students during the 2013-2014 school year based on the Department's
Transitional Guidance on Identification, Assessment, Placement, and Reclassification of
English Language Learners found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/TransitionalGuidance.pdf
2) Please complete district information in the attached spreadsheet labeled ELL List by school for
each ELL student in the district.
3) Submit a plan that includes information about a process for reviewing or developing ESL
curriculum that integrates WIDA ELD standards. a plan for WIDA implementation including
information such as WIDA training opportunities for the district staff, responsible district
staff, meeting dates, minutes and signing sheets and timelines for implementation
Progress Report Due Date(s): August 15, 2014; December 8, 2014
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: ELE 10 Parent Notification
Rating: Partially Implemented
Department CPR Finding: A review of the student records and interviews indicated that parental
notification letters are not always sent out annually.
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
11
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: NHCS policy and procedures will be amended to
indicate that parental notification letters be sent out annually. Student records checklist will be
amended to include annual notification requirement. ESL teacher will be trained in requirement.
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Michelle Arons, Dean of Special
Corrective Action Activity: October 15, 2014
Education and Student Support
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: revised policy and procedure document; revised
checklist; acknowledgement of ESL teacher training
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: record reviews
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: ELE 10 Parent Notification
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval: Not Applicable
Department Order of Corrective Action: Please note that the Department has developed a parent
notification template, available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/resources.html and translated into ten
languages.
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Submit a copy of the annual notification letter that the district will send to parents of ELE students,
along with evidence of training on the revised policies, procedures and documents. Please include a
signed attendance sheet, agenda, and examples of training materials. This progress report is due by
August 15, 2014.
Conduct an internal record review of all ELL records following the implementation of the school’s
corrective actions, for evidence that annual notification letters are being sent to the parents of ELE
students with a copy maintained in the file. Include the number of records reviewed and the number
found to be in compliance. For any records found to be noncompliant, identify the root cause for the
noncompliance and any steps that the district has taken to remedy the file(s). This progress report is
due by December 8, 2014.
Progress Report Due Date(s): August 15, 2014; December 8, 2014
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: ELE 18 Records of ELL Students
Rating: Partially Implemented
Department CPR Finding: A review of ELE student records indicated that required information and
documentation was not consistently evident. Records did not always include the following: progress
reports and report cards, information about the students’ previous school experiences, and parent
notification letters.
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
12
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: conduct internal review to determine which student files
are missing documents; file progress reports and report cards retroactively for any files missing these
reports; adhere to revised policy on annual parent notification (see ELE 10 above); ESL teacher will
conduct annual review of student files to ensure that all required documents are included; Dean of
Special Education and Student Support will sample records to check accuracy of ESL teacher’s record
review.
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Michelle Arons, Dean of Special
Corrective Action Activity: October 15, 2014
Education and Student Support
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: master checklist from record review
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: record reviews
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: ELE 18 Records of ELL
Students
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval: Not Applicable
Department Order of Corrective Action: Not Applicable
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
Provide a copy of the school’s master checklist for ELL file maintenance, along with evidence of
training on the use of this checklist. This progress report is due August 15, 2014.
Conduct an internal record review of all ELL records following the implementation of all corrective
actions for evidence that progress reports and report cards, information about the students’ previous
school experiences, and parent notification letters are maintained in the student record. Report the
number of ELE records reviewed and the number that contained the annual parent notification letter. If
any non-compliance is identified, the district will report the root cause and its proposed plan of action
to remedy any noncompliance for each student record reviewed. This progress report is due December
8, 2014.
*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, their role(s) and signature(s).
Progress Report Due Date(s): August 15, 2014; December 8, 2014
MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Program Quality Assurance Services
Neighborhood House Charter (District) CPR Corrective Action Plan
13