Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
June 21, 2011
Thomas Lynch, Superintendent
Berkley Public Schools
21 North Main Street
Berkley, MA 02779
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Lynch:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in March 2011. During the Mid-cycle
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 2013-2014 school year 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
1
questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Doryce
Smith at 781-338-3718.
Sincerely,
Doryce Smith, 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
Vani Rastogi-Kelly, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Leslie Hill, School Committee Chairperson
Melissa Donnelly, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Berkley Public School District
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: March 28, 2011
Date of this Report: June 21, 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
Criterion
Implemented


Transfer of
parental
rights at the
age of
majority
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Interview

Document
Review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The district follows appropriate
procedures for the transfer of
parental rights at the age of
majority and student participation
and consent at the age of majority.
The district currently does not have
any students enrolled who require
the services of an educational
interpreter for the deaf and hard of
Berkley Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 1 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
interpreters
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
hearing. The district has procedures
in place that indicate that a person
acting in this capacity would be
registered with the Massachusetts
Commission for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing.
Berkley Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 2 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
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
The district completes all
assessments consented-to by the
parent, as indicated on the
Evaluation Consent Form
(N1A).
Progress reports include written
information on the student’s
progress towards the annual
goals in the IEP.
IEP Team meetings take place
on or before the anniversary date
of the IEP.
SE 2
Required and
optional
assessments

Student
Records
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs
SE 18B
Determination
of placement;
provision of
IEP to parent
.
Student
Records


Interview
Student
Records
Student
Records
Interview
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The district provides parents
with a written summary of the
decisions and agreements
reached during the Team
meeting, including a completed
IEP service delivery grid
describing the types and
amounts of special education
and/or related services proposed
Berkley Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 3 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
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
SE 32
Parent
advisory
council for
special
education
SE 33
Involvement
in the general
curriculum
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Interview

Document
Review
Interviews

Student
Records
Interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
by the district and a statement of
the major goal areas associated
with these services.
The Notice of Proposed School
District Action (N1) addresses
the six federally required
elements. Additionally, referrals
from parents that are written and
oral are accepted to determine
special education eligibility, and
a student may also be referred
for an evaluation by a teacher.
The parent advisory council
currently takes part in the
planning, development and
evaluation of the school
district’s special education
programs.
The Present Levels of
Educational Performance A
(PLEP A) section of the IEP is
consistently completed as
Berkley Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 4 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 34
Continuum of
alternative
services and
placements

SE 37
Procedures
for approved
and
unapproved
out-of-district
placements

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
Review
Interview
Student
Records
Interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
required.
The district offers a continuum
of alternative services and
placements to meet the needs of
students with disabilities,
including partial inclusion when
required pursuant to an IEP.
Monitoring plans and completed
monitoring forms are included in
the files of eligible students who
have been placed out-of-district.
Berkley Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 5 of 5
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements