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
May 28, 2010
George Entwistle, Superintendent
Belmont Public Schools
644 Pleasant St.
Belmont, MA 02478
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Entwistle:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district in April 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 2012-2013 school year unless the
Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
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 Paul J.
Aguiar at 781-338-3781.
Sincerely,
Paul J. Aguiar, 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
Ann Rittenburg, Chairperson of the School Committee
Ken Kramer, Special Education Director
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Belmont Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: April 13 & 14, 2010
Date of this Report: May 28, 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
SE 3
Determination
of specific
learning
disability
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
Interviews
&
Student
Records
Student records and staff interviews
indicated that the IEP Team produced a
written determination as to whether the
student has a specific learning disability,
which was signed by all members of the
IEP Team.
Interviews and document review
indicated that there are no students who
require an interpreter. If such a student
enrolls; the school will employ an
educational interpreter registered with the
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing.
Documents
&
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Belmont Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 27, 2010
Page 1 of 5
(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 1
Assessments are
appropriately
selected and
interpreted for
students referred
for evaluation
Criterio
n Implemented


SE 2
Required and
Optional
Assessments

SE 4
Reports of
Assessment Results
SE 7
Transfer of
parental rights at
age of majority


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s)
of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about Criterion
Student
Records
&
Interviews
See SE 2.
Student
Records
&
Interviews
Student
Records
&
Interviews
Staff interviews and student records
indicated that assistive technology
assessments are routinely considered as
part of the evaluation process.
Student records and staff interviews
indicated that assessment reports
included recommendations of the
evaluator. Staff interviews and student
records indicated that the written reports
provided information on the student’s
needs and ways in which the district can
explicitly meet those needs.
Student records and interviews indicated
that one year before the student reaches
age 18, the district informs the student of
his/her right at age 18 to make all
Documents,
Student
Records
&Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Belmont Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 27, 2010
Page 2 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterio
n Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s)
of
Investigation
and student
participation and
consent at the
age of majority
SE 8
IEP Team
composition and
attendance

Student
Records
& Interviews

Student
Records

Documents
& Interviews
SE 15
Outreach by the
School District
(Child Find)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
decisions in relation to special education
programs and services.
SE 14
Review and
Revision of
IEPs
Basis of Determination about Criterion
Interviews and student records indicated
that IEP Team meetings have someone
present who is authorized to commit
district resources. Interviews and student
records also indicated that all required
IEP Team members are always present
and that the district has established and is
using its procedures to seek parent
consent to excuse an IEP Team member
from the meeting.
Student records indicated that district IEP
Team meetings were held on or before
the anniversary date of the IEP.
Documentation and staff interviews
indicated that the district routinely
contacts homeless shelters and transition
houses to reach out to homeless
populations as part of its child find
process.
Belmont Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 27, 2010
Page 3 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterio
n Implemented

SE 18B
Determination
of placement;
provision of IEP
to parent

SE 19
Extended
evaluation

Basis of Determination about Criterion
Student
Records
&
Interviews
Interviews and student records indicated
that the district is providing the proposed
IEP to the parent immediately.
Interviews
While there were no extended
evaluations held in the past two years,
interviews indicated that school
personnel were familiar with the process
for conducting an extended evaluation
and the regulatory requirements for
conducting an extended evaluation.
Student records indicated that the notice
to parents or “N1” notices at all school
levels addressed the six questions
required by federal regulation.
Student
Records
Interviews
SE 25
Parental
Consent
Method(s)
of
Investigation

SE 24
Notice to parent
regarding
proposal or
refusal to
initiate or
change the
identification,
evaluation, or
educational
placement of the
student or the
provision of
FAPE
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Interviews indicated that students
received services only with the written
consent of the parents.
Belmont Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 27, 2010
Page 4 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterio
n Implemented

SE 35
Assistive
Technology
SE 40
Instructional
grouping
requirements for
students aged
five and older
SE 49
Related Services
SE 51
Teacher
Certification
SE 53
Use of


Method(s)
of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about Criterion
Student
Records
&
Interviews
Documents
&
Interviews
See SE 2.
Interviews
Interviews indicated that the occupational
therapist is able to deliver services as
indicated on student IEPs.
Documents
Documentation indicated that all special
education teachers in the district are
currently either licensed or on an
approved waiver.
Interviews and documentation indicated
that at the elementary and middle school
levels paraprofessional staff members
receive professional development.
Please see SE 53.



Documents
&
Interviews

Documents
&
Interviews
Paraprofessionals
SE 54
Professional
Development
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Interviews and documentation indicated
that instructional grouping requirements
for students at the high school are being
met by the district.
Belmont Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 27, 2010
Page 5 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements