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
May 14, 2009
Erica Jamison-Brown, Executive Director
City on a Hill Charter Public School
58 Circuit Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Ms. Jamison-Brown:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the Mid-cycle Review conducted at your school on April 30, 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 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 Mid-cycle Monitoring Specialist would like to commend the following programs and
practices that were brought to its attention and that the team believes have a significant
positive impact on the education of students enrolled in the City on a Hill Charter Public
School. These programs and practices are as follows:
-
The charter school’s N-1 forms were exemplary and contained significant detail
regarding student assessment, progress and needs as determined by the IEP Team.
-
The charter school’s behavioral interventions for students whose behavior might
interfere with their learning or the learning of others was exemplary and included
positive interventions prior to the 10 day time period for special education
students as well as significant follow-up procedures and the charters schools use
of “Contracts for Success” to promote positive student behavior.
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 that 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
Robert Mazzarella, Chairman Board of Trustees
Anita Barnes, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report form
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
City on a Hill Charter Public School
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: April 30, 2009
Date of this Report: May 14, 2009
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
SE 20
Least restrictive
program selected

Student
record
review;
Interviews
The student record review and
staff interviews indicated that
students are placed in the least
restrictive environment based on
individual student need as
determined by the IEP Team.
SE 24
Notice to parent
regarding
proposal or
refusal to initiate

Student
record review
Student record review indicated
the charter school’s compliance
with the notice requirements to
parents. The charter school’s N-1
forms were exemplary and
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
City on a Hill Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 14, 2009
Page 1 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
or change the
identification,
evaluation, or
educational
placement of the
child or the
provision of
FAPE
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
contained significant detail
regarding student assessment,
progress and needs as determined
by the IEP Team.
SE 25
Parental consent

Student
record
review;
Interview
with Director
of the
learning
network
The student record review and
staff interviews indicated the
charter school’s compliance with
this criterion.
SE 27
Content of team
meeting notice to
parent

Student
record review
The student record review
indicated the charter school’s
compliance with this criterion.
SE 29
Communications

Student
record
The student record review,
document review and staff
City on a Hill Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 14, 2009
Page 2 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

are in English
and primary
language of
home
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
review;
Document
review;
Interviews
interviews indicated the charter
school translates documents into
the primary languages represented
in the charter school and provides
interpretations for parents, as
required.
SE 32
Parent advisory
council for
special education

Document
review;
Interviews
The charter school has an active
PAC with by-laws; the PAC holds
regular meetings for special
education parents and the PAC
has advised the charter school
regarding special education
programming and services.
SE 34
Continuum of
alternative
services and
placements

The student record review,
document review and interviews
indicated that students are placed
in settings across the continuum
based on individual student need.
SE 45
Procedures for
suspensions up
to 10 days and
after 10 days

Student
record
review;
Interviews;
Document
review
Student
record
review;
Interviews
document
review.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The student record review,
interviews and document review
indicated the charter school’s
compliance with this criterion.
City on a Hill Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 14, 2009
Page 3 of 4
(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 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities when
suspensions
exceed 10
consecutive
school days

Document
review
The document review indicated
charter school procedures for the
suspension of students with
disabilities comply with 34 CFR
300.101-113.
SE 52A
Registration of
educational
interpreters

Interview
with Director
of the
Learning
Network;
Document
review
The charter school indicated that
interpreting services for students
who are deaf or hard of hearing
are not required at this time;
however, the charter school
submitted a statement of
assurance that any interpreters the
charter school may use will be
registered with the Massachusetts
Commission for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
City on a Hill Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 14, 2009
Page 4 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements