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 7, 2011
Marinel McGrath, Superintendent
Andover Public Schools
36 Bartlet Street
Andover, MA 01810
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent McGrath:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in December 2010. During the 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:
interviews, review of student records, examination of documentation, and classroom
observation(s).
The Department determined that one or more of the criteria monitored in your district
was “Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where
noncompliance was found, the Department has prescribed corrective action for the
district. This corrective action must be implemented as soon as possible, but in no case
later than a year from the date of this report. You will find these requirements for
corrective action included in the enclosed report, along with requirements for submitting
progress reports using the enclosed form.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that all of the required
corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in
the report. You must submit your statement of assurance to Darlene Lynch, Director,
Program Quality Assurance Services, by March 25, 2011.
1
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 Nicole
Edgett at 781-338-3723.
Sincerely,
Nicole Edgett, 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
Dean Paolillo, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Dennis F. Forgue, School Committee Chairperson
Kathleen Fink, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Andover Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: December 3, 2010
Date of this Report: March 7, 2011
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
SE 7
Transfer of
parental
rights at age
of majority
and student
participatio
n and
consent at
the age of
majority
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
review and
staff interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Based on a review of
documentation, the district
recently revised the age of
majority policy to align with the
recent guidance issued by the
Department. Additionally, staff
interviews indicate that
procedures have been developed
to ensure that the district
maintains compliance regarding
notification to parents and
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 1 of 11
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters
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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
students who reach the age of
majority.
Based on a review of
documentation, the interpreter
employed by the district is
registered with the
Massachusetts Commission for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

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 9
Timeline for
determination of
eligibility
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
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
A review of student records
indicated that the district does
not always determine eligibility
and propose an IEP to the parent
within 45 days of receiving
Please conduct an analysis of
current system to track the 45- day
timeline requirement. Based on the
results of the analysis, please
provide the district’s determination
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 2 of 11
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Please submit a
description of the
changes in
procedures or
other strategies
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
signed consent.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
of the root cause of continued
noncompliance and the district’s
proposed corrective actions to
achieve full compliance.
Additionally, upon completion of
the root cause analysis and
instituting corrective action, please
select a sample of student records
to conduct internal monitoring.
Please be sure that the sample
selected is representative of all
school levels (elementary, middle,
and high school) and consists of
initial evaluations and
reevaluations.
*Please note that 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 level
for the record review; b) Date of
the review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review, their
roles(s), and their signature(s)
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 3 of 11
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
implemented by
the district as a
result of its
analysis to ensure
compliance with
the 45-day
timeline. Please
submit evidence
that all staff
responsible for
implementing
these changes
have been
trained. This
progress report is
due April 11,
2011.
Please submit the
results of the
internal
monitoring
conducted to
ensure that the
district
developed and
proposed an IEP
within 45 days of
receiving signed
consent. If
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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
noncompliance is
identified please
conduct an
analysis to
identify to root
cause of
noncompliance,
and report the
additional
corrective actions
taken to remedy
the identified
issues. This
progress report is
due June 30,
2011.
SE 19
Extended
Evaluation
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
Student records indicated that the
IEP Team does not always
convene to develop a partial IEP
when there is sufficient
information available. Instead,
the district will conduct an
extended evaluation to pursue
additional information.
Additionally, once an extended
evaluation is conducted, the IEP
Team does not always reconvene
within eight weeks to review the
assessment results.
Please conduct professional
development for all IEP Team
chairpersons, on the appropriate
use of an extended evaluation.
Please conduct internal monitoring
of student records with extended
evaluations that have taken place
since the staff training to ensure
that the IEP Team developed a
partial IEP when there is sufficient
information available.
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 4 of 11
Please submit
evidence, such as
meeting agendas
and sign-in
sheets that IEP
Team
chairpersons
have participated
in professional
development on
the appropriate
use of an
extended
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
Additionally, please conduct
internal monitoring to ensure that
the IEP Team follows the extended
evaluation process and convenes
within eight weeks to review the
assessment results of the extended
evaluation for extended evaluations
that have taken place after the staff
training.
*Please note that 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 level
for the record review; b) Date of
the review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review, their
roles(s), and their signature(s)
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 5 of 11
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
evaluation. This
progress report is
due April 11,
2011.
Please submit the
results of the
internal
monitoring
conducted to
ensure that the
IEP Team
convenes to
develop a partial
IEP pending the
results of the
extended
evaluation. In
addition, please
review the
records to ensure
the IEP Team
convenes within
eight weeks of
initiating an
extended
evaluation to
develop the
complete IEP.
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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
If any continued
noncompliance is
identified, please
conduct an
analysis to
identify the root
cause and initiate
additional
corrective action
as appropriate.
This progress
report is due
June 30, 2011.
SE 20
Least Restrictive
Environment
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
The student record review
indicated when a student is
removed from the general
education classroom at any time,
the IEP Team does not always
state why the removal is
considered critical to the
student´s program and the basis
for its conclusion that the
education of the student in a less
restrictive environment, with the
use of supplementary aids and
services, could not be achieved
satisfactorily.
Please conduct professional
development for all IEP Team
chairpersons on the responsibility
to state in the IEP why the
student’s removal from general
education is critical to the student’s
program.
Please conduct a review of a
sample of student records with
IEPs that were developed after the
staff training took place, to ensure
that the basis for removing the
student from the general education
setting is appropriately stated
within the IEP. Please be sure that
the sample of records selected is
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 6 of 11
Please submit
evidence such as
agendas and
sign-in sheets,
that IEP Team
chairpersons
received training
on the
responsibility to
justify a student’s
removal from the
general education
setting. This
progress report is
due April 11,
2011.
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
representative of elementary,
middle, and high school.
Please note that 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 level for the record
review; b) Date of the review; c)
Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, their
roles(s), and their signature(s)
SE 25
Parental
Consent
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
A review of student records
indicated that the district does
not always obtain consent before
conducting related service
assessments.
Please submit the
results of the
internal
monitoring. If
any
noncompliance is
found, please
conduct an
analysis to
identify the root
cause and
conduct
additional
corrective action
as appropriate.
This progress
report is due
June 30, 2011.
Please conduct an analysis of each
building based system to ensure
that the parent/guardian consented
to all of the proposed related
service assessments and identify
the root causes of noncompliance
in this area.
Please submit a
description of the
analysis
conducted to
determine the
root cause of non
compliance.
Please select a sample of student
records for review. Please be sure
that the sample selected includes
initial and reevaluations that have
Please identify
any procedural
changes made to
each building
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 7 of 11
(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
been conducted since the revised
procedures were implemented. The
sample should be representative of
the elementary, middle and high
school levels. Please review each
student file to ensure that the
parent/guardian consented to all of
the related service assessments
conducted as part of the evaluation.
Please note that 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 level for the record
review; b) Date of the review; c)
Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, their
roles(s), and their signature(s)
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 8 of 11
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
based system to
address the issues
of
noncompliance.
Additionally,
please submit
evidence that all
special education
staff and related
service providers
were informed of
any procedural
changes made to
each building
based system.
This progress
report is due
April 11, 2011.
Please submit the
results of the
internal
monitoring
conducted to
ensure that the
parent/guardian
consented to all
of the related
service
assessments
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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
conducted as part
of the evaluation.
If any
noncompliance is
identified, please
identify the root
cause, and
implement
additional
corrective action
as needed. This
progress report is
due June 30,
2011.
SE 29
Communications
in English and
the primary
language of the
home

Student
Records and
Documentation
SE 40
Instructional
Grouping for
students age 5
and older

Documentation
Based on a review of student
records and documentation, the
district developed procedures to
ensure that parents receive
communication in the primary
language of the home, if such
language is other than English.
Based on a review of the
documentation, the district has
met the instructional grouping
requirements. The district does
not currently have any
instructional groups that exceed
the student to teacher ratio
requirements.
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 9 of 11
Criterion
SE 55
Special
Education
facilities and
classrooms
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Partially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Investigation
Facilities
Observation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
A facilities observation at the
South Elementary School
determined that the students who
receive Occupational Therapy
(OT) services must enter and exit
through the kindergarten
classroom to access the OT
instructional space.
Please ensure that the OT
instructional space is given the
same priority as general education
programs in order to minimize the
stigmatization of eligible students
receiving services.
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Please submit a
description of
how the district
will ensure that
the OT
instructional
space is given the
same priority as
general education
in order to
minimize the
stigmatization of
eligible students
receiving
services. Please
be sure to include
a proposed
timeline for
corrective action.
This progress
report is due
April 11, 2011
The Department
will conduct an
onsite visit as
verification of
correction of
noncompliance.
This progress
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 10 of 11
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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
report date is to
be determined.
Andover Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 7, 2011
Page 11 of 11
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Andover Public Schools
M I D – CY C L E P R O G R E S S R E P O R T
Date Prepared: ____________________________________
Prepared by: __________________________________________________________________
(name and title)
Criterion: _______________________
Topic: ________________________________________________________________________
For each criterion for which you prepare a progress report, please



make a copy of this cover page,
fill in the information requested above, and
attach a complete description of the corrective action taken and any accompanying documentation.
(Description of corrective action for each criterion and any accompanying documentation should include all of the
“Progress Report Required Elements” for that criterion in the Mid-cycle Report.)
Send the whole set of completed progress reports to:
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906