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
November 28, 2011
James Stankiewicz, Superintendent
Central Berkshire Regional School District
P.O. Box 299
Dalton, MA 01227
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Stankiewicz:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in May 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.
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 Lynn
A. Summerill at 781-338-6704.
Sincerely,
Lynn A. Summerill, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education
Dean Paolillo, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Richard Lacatell, School Committee Chair
Constance West, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Central Berkshire Regional School District
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: May 16, 17, 2011
Date of this Report: November 28, 2011
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Required Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria is available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 7
Transfer of
parent rights at
the age of
majority

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student Records
The district consistently
informs students and parents of
the transfer of parental rights at
the age of majority. Upon
reaching 18, the district
procures consent from students
to continue their special
education program.
Document
Review
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and
Timelines for
Implementation
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 1 of 9
(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
Interview
The district does not employ
educational interpreters at this
time. Students in need of this
service currently attend
William Ross School for the
Deaf who have registered
interpreters.
Document
Review
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and
Timelines for
Implementation
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 2 of 9
(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
SE 1
Assessments are
appropriately
selected &
interpreted

Student Records
SE 2
Required and
optional
assessments

Student Records
Interview
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
The district’s assessments are
appropriately selected and
interpreted. The district uses
multiple evaluations that are
tailored to assess specific areas
of educational need.
While the district does not use
the recommended DESE
Educational Assessment Part A
and Part B forms, the district
consistently completes an
educational assessment history
of the student’s educational
progress in the general
curriculum via a cumulative
spreadsheet that is updated
annually by teacher(s) with
current knowledge of the
student.
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 3 of 9
If Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(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
SE 3
Special
requirements for
determination of
specific learning
disability

Student Records
The district consistently
completes all required specific
learning disability (SLD) forms
and has a written determination
signed by all IEP Team
members.
SE 4
Reports of
assessment
results

Student Records
Assessment reports consistently
contain all required elements
including the procedures
employed, the results, and the
diagnostic impressions of the
evaluator.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition and
attendance

Student Records
The district has designated 29
staff members with the authority
to commit resources and make
programmatic decisions. IEP
Teams consistently contain all
required IEP Team members,
evidencing full compliance with
this criterion.
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 4 of 9
If Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(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
SE 9
Timeline for
determination of
eligibility &
provision of doc.
to parent

Student Records
The district consistently
determines eligibility, and
proposes an IEP or written
explanation of no eligibility
within 45 school working days
after receipt of parental consent
for an evaluation.
SE 13
Progress Reports
and content

Student Records
Progress reports consistently
address all IEP goals, and
contain specific information on
the student’s progress toward
reaching the annual goals.
SE 18A
IEP development
and content

Student Records
The district’s IEPs contain all
required elements including the
type of disability and nonparticipation justification
statements that document the
basis of the student’s removal
from the general curriculum.
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 5 of 9
If Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 18B
Determination of
placement;
provision of IEP
to parent

SE 20
Least restrictive
program selected

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student Records
The district provides the parent
with a draft IEP and a proposed
placement immediately
following the IEP Team meeting,
evidencing full compliance with
this criterion.
Interview
Document Review
Interviews
The district selects programs in
the least restrictive environments
and has created significantly
more inclusive programs (cotaught classes and inclusion
supports) since the Coordinated
Program Review. IEPs
consistently state why students
are removed from general
education classrooms, why
removals are critical to the
students’ programs, and the basis
for its conclusions that education
of students in less restrictive
environments, with the use of
supplementary aides and
services, could not be achieved
satisfactorily.
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 6 of 9
If Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 22
IEP
implementation
and availability

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student Records
The district implements all IEPs
without delay immediately after
receiving written acceptance of
the IEP.
Document Review
Interviews
SE 24
Notice to parents
Student Records
The district’s Notice of Proposed
School District Action (N1)
forms are comprehensive and
contain all required information
evidencing full implementation
of this criterion.
SE 25
Parental consent

Student Records
The district consistently
implements all requirements of
parental consent. The district
documents its multiple attempts
to secure the consent of the
parent.
SE 25A
Sending of copy
of notice to BSEA

Student Records
The district consistently submits
partially rejected IEPs to the
BSEA.
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 7 of 9
If Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 33
Involvement in
the general
curriculum
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion

Student Records
Please see SE 18B and SE 20.
SE 37
Procedures for
approved and
unapproved outof-district
placements

Student Records
The district consistently
monitors and documents its
monitoring activities for students
placed in out-of- district
programs.
SE 55
Special education
facilities and
classrooms

Site Observation
The district redistributed its
related services classrooms
throughout the BecketWashington Elementary School
and removed all signage to
ensure that the inclusion of
students on IEPs is maximized in
the life of the school and the
separation or stigmatization of
such students is minimized.
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 8 of 9
If Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(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
High School special education
classroom spaces are equal to the
general education classes in all
physical respects.
SE 56
Special education
programs and
services are
evaluated

SE 59
Transfer of
student records

Document Review
Interview
Document Review
Interview
The district has conducted three
special education program
evaluations since 2009,
evidencing full compliance with
this criterion.
The district releases student
records within three days of
receiving notice that the student
will be transferring. The
district’s policy does not
withhold records due to
outstanding fees, equipment, and
textbooks.
Central Berkshire Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 9 of 9
If Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements