The 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
July 9, 2013
Margaret Campbell, Executive Director
Codman Academy Charter Public School
637 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Executive Director Campbell:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based
on the onsite visit conducted in your district in April 2013. 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: interviews, review of student records, examination of
documentation, and classroom observation(s).
The Department determined that one or more of the criteria monitored in your district was
“Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where noncompliance was
found, the Department has prescribed corrective action for the district. This corrective action
must be implemented as soon as possible, but in no case later than a year from the date of this
report. You will find these requirements for corrective action included in the enclosed report,
along with requirements for submitting progress reports using the enclosed form.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that all of the required corrective
action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in the report. You
must submit your statement of assurance to Darlene Lynch, Director, Program Quality Assurance
Services, by July 24, 2013.
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 Tim Gallagher at 781338-3717.
Sincerely,
Tim Gallagher, 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
Heather Ayers, Board of Trustees Chairperson
Emily Barbara, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Codman Academy Charter Public School
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: April 12, 2013
Date of this Report: July 9, 2013
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
Transfer of
parental rights
and student
participation
and consent at
age of majority
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
While the charter school provides
age of majority notification to
both the student and the
parent/guardian explicitly stating
that all rights accorded to parents
under special education law will
transfer to the 18 year old
student, this notification is not
provided one year prior to the
student reaching age 18. The
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Conduct training for special
education staff responsible for
providing the age of majority
notification on the procedures for
providing this notification to the
student and parent/guardian one
year prior to the student reaching
the age of 18.
Develop an internal oversight
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 1 of 12
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit the training
information,
including the
agenda and sign-in
sheet.
Submit a
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
charter school provides this
notification once the student
turns 18 years of age.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
and tracking system for ensuring
that notification is provided one
year prior to the student’s 18th
birthday. The oversight and
tracking system should include
periodic reviews by the Director
of Special Education to ensure
ongoing compliance.
Develop a report of the results of
an internal review of records in
which the student turned 17 years
of age, after implementation of
all corrective actions, to ensure
appropriate provision of the
transfer of parental rights
notification.
Please note when conducting
internal monitoring that the
charter school must maintain
the following documentation
and make it available to the
Department upon request:
a) List of the student names
and grade levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
their role(s), and signature(s).
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 2 of 12
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
system with
periodic reviews,
along with the
name and role of
the designated
person by October
4, 2013.
Submit the results
of the review of
students records
and include the
following:
 Number of
records
reviewed;
 Number of
records in
compliance;
 For any
records not in
compliance,
determine the
root cause; and
 Specific
corrective
actions taken
by the district
to remedy any
non-
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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
compliance.
Submit the report
by January 13,
2014.

Student
Records
Interviews
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance
Required members of the Team,
including general education
teachers, are attending IEP Team
meetings.
If a Team member is unable to
attend the IEP Team meeting, the
charter school uses appropriate
procedures to excuse the Team
member, which include:
 The district and the parent
agreeing, in writing, that the
attendance of the Team
member is not necessary
because the member’s area
of the curriculum or related
services is not being
modified or discussed; or
 The district and the parent
agreeing, in writing, to
excuse a required Team
member’s participation and
the excused member
provides written input into
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 3 of 12
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
the development of the IEP
to the parent and IEP Team
prior to the meeting.

Student
Records
Interviews
SE 18A
IEP
Development
and content
SE 25
Parental
consent
Interviews

Document
Review
Whenever the IEP Team
evaluation indicates that a
student’s disability affects social
skills development or a student’s
disability makes him or her
vulnerable to bullying,
harassment, or teasing, the IEP
addresses the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid and
respond to bullying, harassment,
or teasing. For students
identified with a disability on the
autism spectrum, the IEP Team
considers and specifically
addresses the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid and
respond to bullying, harassment,
or teasing.
While the charter school does not
have a parent who has revoked
consent to a student's special
education services, document
review and staff interviews
indicate that the charter school
has appropriate procedures in
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 4 of 12
(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
place regarding the revocation of
consent. According to the
procedures, if a parent revokes
consent in writing, the charter
school will act promptly to
provide written notice to the
parent of the charter school’s
proposal to discontinue services
based on the written revocation
of consent. The procedures
indicate that notice will be
provided a reasonable time
before the charter school intends
to discontinue the student's
services. The charter school will
also provide information on how
the parent can obtain a copy of
the procedural safeguards.
SE 51
Appropriate
special
education
teacher
licensure
(Commonwealth
Charter
Schools only)

Interviews
Document
Review
The special education
coordinator has completed a
graduate degree in special
education and provides direct
supervision to one staff member
who is delivering specialized
instruction to students.
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 5 of 12
(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

SE 1
Assessments
are
appropriately
selected and
interpreted for
students
referred for
evaluation

SE 6
Determination
of transition
services

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student
Records
For limited English
proficient students, the
charter school administers
assessments for special
education eligibility in the
language and form most
likely to yield accurate
information on what the
student knows and can
accomplish academically,
developmentally, and
functionally.
Interviews
Student
Records
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
The charter school
consistently documents
transition planning for all
students ages 14 and older.
Completed Transition
Planning Forms were
included in all files
reviewed.
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 6 of 12
(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
Student
Records
When students are
determined to be ineligible
for special education
services, a Section 504
Accommodation Plan is
considered at the eligibility
Team meeting and
documented on the Notice
of School District Refusal
to Act (N2) form.
SE 9A
Elements of
the eligibility
determination;
general
education
accommodations and
services for
ineligible
students

SE 11
School district
response to
parental
request for
independent
educational
evaluation

Document
Review
The charter school has
established procedures to
offer parents the option of
participating in an income
eligibility program for free
or reduced cost
independent educational
evaluations that are
equivalent to the types of
assessments completed by
the school.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content

Student
Records
Related service providers
consistently provide
progress reports.
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 7 of 12
(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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
The charter school
provides graduating
students with a summary of
his or her academic
achievement and functional
performance and also
includes recommendations
on how to assist the student
in meeting his or her post
secondary goals.
SE 20
Least
restrictive
program
selected
PI
Student
Records
Interviews
The Non-Participation
Justification statement does
not always specifically
state why the removal of
the student from the
general education
classroom is considered
critical to the student's
program and the basis for
the Team’s conclusion that
education of the student in
a less restrictive
environment, with the use
of supplementary aids and
services, could not be
achieved satisfactorily.
Provide training to the Team
chairpersons responsible for
completing IEPs on writing NonParticipation Justification statements
that address why the removal of the
student from the general education
classroom is critical to the student’s
programming.
Develop an internal oversight and
tracking system for ensuring that
written justification meets the
requirements of this criterion. The
oversight and tracking system
should include periodic reviews of
IEPs by the Director of Special
Education to ensure ongoing
compliance.
Develop a report of the results of an
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 8 of 12
Submit the training
information,
including the
agenda and sign-in
sheet.
Submit a
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking
system with
periodic reviews,
along with the
name and role of
the designated
person by October
4, 2013.
Submit the results
of the review of
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
internal review of student records, in
which IEPs have been written since
implementation of all of the
corrective actions, for evidence of
appropriately completed NonParticipation Justification
statements.
Please note when conducting
internal monitoring that the
charter school must maintain the
following documentation and
make it available to the
Department upon request: a) List
of the student names and grade
levels for the records reviewed;
b) Date of the review; c) Name of
person(s) who conducted the
review, their role(s), and
signature(s).
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
students records
and include the
following:
 Number of
records
reviewed;
 Number of
records in
compliance;
 For any
records not in
compliance,
determine the
root cause; and
 Specific
corrective
actions taken
by the district
to remedy any
noncompliance.
Submit the report
by January 13,
2014.
SE 29
Communications are in
English and
primary

Student
Records
Interviews
The charter school
provides translated IEPs
and evaluation reports,
when requested, for parents
whose home language is
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 9 of 12
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
language of
home
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
other than English.
SE 33
Involvement in
the general
curriculum

SE 43
Behavioral
interventions

Student
Records
See SE 8.
Interviews
Student
Records
Interviews
The charter school
consistently considers and
incorporates behavioral
interventions into the
student’s IEP.
Behavioral interventions
are developed and
incorporated into the
Present Levels of
Educational Performance B
(PLEP B) section of the
student’s IEP and the
interventions are monitored
by the Special Education
Coordinator.
SE 44
Procedure for
recording
suspensions

Student
Records
Document
When a student is excluded
for non-compliant
behavior, whether it is for a
portion of the day or the
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 10 of 12
(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
Review
entire day(s), the charter
school documents this
exclusion as a suspension
in both the student’s
cumulative file and special
education file.
Furthermore, the Dean of
Students tracks all
discipline records and in
the event that a pattern of
suspension is identified,
the Team reconvenes to
discuss behavioral
interventions and amends
the IEP, if necessary. See
also SE 46.
Interviews
SE 45
Procedures for
suspensions up
to 10 days and
after 10 days:
General
Requirements

Document
Review
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
The charter school’s
expectations for student
conduct, as outlined in the
school’s accountability
program, now include
references to additional
protections required for
students with IEPs and
students with Section 504
Accommodation Plans.
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 11 of 12
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities
when
suspensions
exceed 10
consecutive
school days or
a pattern has
developed for
suspensions
exceeding 10
cumulative
days;
responsibilities
of the Team;
responsibilities
of the district
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student
Records
The charter school
consistently follows
appropriate procedures and
conducts manifestation
determinations when there
is a change in placement,
such as when there is a
suspension of longer than
10 consecutive days or a
series of suspensions occur
that are shorter than 10
consecutive days but
constitute a pattern.
Document
Review
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Codman Academy Charter Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 9, 2013
Page 12 of 12
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Codman Academy Charter Public School
M I D – CY C L E P R O G R E S S R E P O R T
Date Prepared: ____________________________________
Prepared by: __________________________________________________________________
(name and title)
Criterion: _______________________
Topic: ________________________________________________________________________
For each criterion for which you prepare a progress report, please



make a copy of this cover page,
fill in the information requested above, and
attach a complete description of the corrective action taken and any accompanying documentation.
(Description of corrective action for each criterion and any accompanying documentation should include all of the
“Progress Report Required Elements” for that criterion in the Mid-cycle Report.)
Send the whole set of completed progress reports to:
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906