Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
June 3, 2009
Donald Yeoman
Superintendent of Schools
Chelmsford Public Schools
200 Richard Road
North Chelmsford, MA 01863
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Yeoman:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district on May 15, 2009. 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 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 2011-2012 school year unless the
Department determines there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review has been appreciated. If you
have questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact
Joni Reynolds at 781-338-3701.
Sincerely,
Joni S. Reynolds, 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
Angelo Taranto, School Committee Chairperson
Carol Fredette, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Chelmsford Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: May 15, 20009
Date of this Report: June 3, 2009
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Core Special Education Criteria Cited in CPR Report and Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
(These criteria are marked with a triple asterisk (***) in the Mid-cycle Review Information Package and in
the School District Information Package for Special Education.)
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
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 1 of 9
(b)
Progress
Report
Due
Date(s)
and
Required
Elements
Criterion
*** SE 25
Parental
Consent
***SE 29
Communications
are in English
and primary
language of
home
***SE 32
Parent advisory
Criterion
Implemented




Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
record review
Student
record
review;
Document
review;
Interviews
Document
review;
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
The student record review
indicated compliance with
this criterion.
The district provided
translated documents in
Portuguese and Chinese
(Mandarin) based on student
need. The district has a
procedure in place for staff
members to request
translations and
interpretations through Cross
Cultural Communication
Systems, Inc.
The district has a Parent
Advisory Council for
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 2 of 9
(b)
Progress
Report
Due
Date(s)
and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

council for
special
education
***SE 52A
Registration of
educational
interpreters

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Interviews
with Special
Education
Director and
PAC CoChairperson
Special Education that holds
regular meetings and has
bylaws.
Document
review;
Interview
with Special
Education
The district indicated that
interpreting services for
students who are deaf or
hard of hearing are not
required at this time;
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
The district provided an
online parent survey for
feedback regarding district
special education programs
and services and the IEP
process. The PAC gives
ongoing feedback to the
district regarding special
education parent questions
and concerns.
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 3 of 9
(b)
Progress
Report
Due
Date(s)
and
Required
Elements
Criterion
***SE 55
Special
education
facilities and
classrooms
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Director
however, the district
submitted a statement of
assurance that any
interpreters the district may
use will be registered with
the Massachusetts
Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing.
Interview and
tour with
Special
Education
Director
The high school special
education classrooms and
the Harrington, McCarthy
and South Row Learning
Centers have been moved to
locations that maximize the
inclusion of students into the
life of the school, as have the
OT services at South Row
and the speech and language
and counseling settings at
the Harrington School.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 4 of 9
(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
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
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 5 of 9
(b)
Progress
Report
Due
Date(s)
and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 3
Determination
of specific
learning
disability

SE 6
Transition
services

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
review
Student
Record
Review
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
The document review
indicated that when a student
who is suspected of having a
specific learning disability is
evaluated, the Team creates
a written determination as to
whether he or she has a
specific learning disability
that is signed by all members
of the Team.
The Student record reviews
indicated the IEP Team
discusses transition services
when the student is 15 years
old and documents its
discussion on a transition
planning form. The IEP
Team reviews the transition
plan annually and invites
students to participate in
Team meetings when
transition will be discussed.
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 6 of 9
(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 8
Team
composition

Document
review;
Interviews
with Special
Education
Director and
high school
Team
Chairperson
The district has a process in
place to ensure that a
representative from the
district who has the authority
to commit the resources of
the district always attends
the IEP Team Meeting.
SE 13
Progress
reports

Student
record and
document
review
The student record and
document review indicated
the district provides reports
for parents on the student’s
progress toward reaching the
goals set in the IEP at least
as often as parents are
informed of the progress of
non-disabled students.
Student
The student record review
SE 18A
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 7 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
IEP
development
SE 56
Special
Education
programs and
services are
evaluated
Criterion
Implemented



Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
record
review;
Interview
with high
school Team
Chairperson
and interview with the high
school IEP Team
Chairperson indicated that
students at the high school
receive academic support
based on individual student
need.
Interview
with Special
Education
Director;
record review
An interview with the
Special Education Director
and record review indicated
the Director reviews the
district’s special education
programs based on targeted
needs.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Most recently, the Director
conducted an internal review
of the life skills and
preschool programs because
of anticipated changes in the
district that would affect
these areas.
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 8 of 9
(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
Chelmsford Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 3, 2009
Page 9 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements