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 24, 2008
Sheila Balboni, Executive Director
Community Day Public Charter School
190 Hampshire Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
Re: ’08 Mid-cycle Report
Dear Director Balboni:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's ’08 Mid-cycle Report.
This report contains findings based on onsite monitoring the Department conducted to determine
the effectiveness of corrective action it approved or ordered to address noncompliance identified
in your district’s last Coordinated Program Review Report, dated July 15, 2005. The ’08 Midcycle Report also contains findings based on onsite monitoring of special education compliance
criteria that have been created or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004.
We are pleased to tell you that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has found
the Corrective Action Plan implemented by your district to have been effective in remedying
previously identified noncompliance in Special Education and English Language Education. The
Department has also found your district to implement special education compliance criteria that
were created or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004, as well as SE 33 on the access
of students with disabilities to the district’s general curriculum (the curriculum expected to be
taught to all students). 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 new special
education requirements as well as maintaining compliance in areas where the Department found
noncompliance during the Coordinated Program Review (CPR).
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled 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 is appreciated. Should you wish to
have clarification of any part of our report, please do not hesitate to contact me at 781-338-3720.
1
Sincerely,
D. Beth López, 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
Eric Stacey, President of the Charter School Board of Trustees
Carol Stern, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinator
Encl.: ’08 Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Cover Letter 2008.doc
Rev. 2-21-08
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Lawrence Community Day Charter School
Date of Coordinated Program Review (CPR) Final Report: July 15, 2005
Date Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action Approved or Ordered: October 13, 2005
Dates of Corrective Action Plan Progress Reports: January 27, 2006, June 30, 2006
Dates of this Mid-cycle Review Onsite Visit: June 3, 2008
Date of this Report: July 24, 2008
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.
Special Education Criteria Cited in CPR Report and Monitored in Mid-cycle
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 2
Required and
optional
assessments

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or Ineffective
or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report
indicates that the district
employs a school nurse who
could provide or interpret a
health assessment.
Community Day Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 24, 2008
Page 1 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 8
Evaluation and
Team
composition

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
Review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report
and eight student records
indicates that the occupational
therapist presents assessment
information at the Team
meeting as required.
SE 11
Independent
educational
evaluation
(IEE)

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
The district submitted a policy
regarding independent
educational evaluation
containing all the required
elements.
SE 16
Screening

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
The district provided copies of
procedures developed to ensure
that annual screenings for
vision, hearing and posture take
place, along with copies of data
and parent notices from the
2007-2008 school year.
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
The district submitted agendas
and sign in sheets previously
indicating that training in this
area did take place. Onsite
review of eight student records
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or Ineffective
or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Community Day Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 24, 2008
Page 2 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or Ineffective
or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
reveal that the justification
statement for removal from the
regular education classroom
focuses on the student and
contains all required elements.
SE 48
F.A.P.E.

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
Review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report
indicates that the district now
employs a school nurse who can
provide access to health
services.
SE 49
Related
services

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
Review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report
indicates that the district
employs a school nurse who can
provide access to health
services.
SE 50
Responsibilities of the
school
principal

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
The district provided a copy of
its 2007-2008 district
curriculum accommodation plan
addressing supports available
for limited English proficient
students, students with
behavioral difficulties, and
procedures in place to document
in-class strategies,
Community Day Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 24, 2008
Page 3 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified


Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or Ineffective
or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
accommodations or
interventions attempted in the
student’s record.
SE 55
Special
education
facilities and
classrooms

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
In an onsite visit to the speech
therapy classroom, it was clear
that improvements had been
made to the room to allow for
adequate heat without the use of
space heaters.
Special Education Criteria Created or Revised in Response to IDEA-2004
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
SE 3
Special
requirements
for
determination
of specific
learning
disability
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report and
eight student records demonstrates
that the district is in compliance
with this criterion.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Community Day Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 24, 2008
Page 4 of 9
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
SE 6 ##1 - 3
Determination
of Transition
Services

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report and
student records demonstrates that
the district is in compliance with
this criterion.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of eight randomly chosen
student records indicated that IEP
Team meetings are routinely
conducted with all appropriate
staff.
SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report and
eight student records demonstrates
that the district is in compliance
with this criterion.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
The district submitted a description
of procedures used to monitor
progress reports and the provision
of progress reports with all required
elements. Record review confirmed
district compliance.
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report and
student records demonstrates that
the district is in compliance with
this criterion.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Community Day Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 24, 2008
Page 5 of 9
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
SE 25B
Resolution of
disputes

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report and
student records demonstrates that
the district is in compliance with
this criterion.
SE 33
Involvement in
the General
Curriculum

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of student records
indicates that the district is in
compliance with this criterion.
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities
more than 10
days

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
A review of the district’s
Evaluation of Services Report and
student records demonstrates that
the district is in compliance with
this criterion.
SE 52
Appropriate
certifications/
licenses or
other
credentials –
related service
providers
(to be reviewed
only with
respect to

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
The district does not, at this time,
have a student who requires
interpreting for the deaf or hard of
hearing.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Community Day Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 24, 2008
Page 6 of 9
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
providers of
interpreting
services)
Criteria from Other Regulated Programs Monitored During this Mid-cycle Review
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
ELE 11
Equal access to
academic
programs and
services

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
The district provided evidence that
those teachers who have Limited
English Proficient students in their
classrooms have been provided
with additional (20 hours more than
the original 10 hours) Sheltered
English Immersion training.
MOA 23
Comparability
of facilities

Onsite Midcycle Review
June 3, 2008
In an onsite visit to the speech
therapy classroom, it was clear that
improvements had been made to
the room to allow for adequate heat
without the use of space heaters.
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
Or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective
Or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Mid-cycle Report Format 2008.doc
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Requirements
Rev. 11/8/07
Community Day Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 24, 2008
Page 7 of 9