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
April 13, 2011
Lisa Dana, Superintendent
Danvers Public School
64 Cabot Road,
Danvers, Ma
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Dana:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in February 2011. During the 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 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 Nicole
Edgett at 781-338-3723.
Sincerely,
Nicole Edgett, 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
Dean Paolillo, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Arthur Skarmeas, School Committee Chairperson
Kathleen Curtis, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Danvers Public School
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: February 4, 2011
Date of this Report: April 13, 2011
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
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
Student
Records

Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Based on a review of
documentation, the district recently
revised the age of majority policy
to align with the recent guidance
issued by the Department.
Additionally, staff interviews
indicate that procedures have been
developed to ensure that the district
maintains compliance regarding
Danvers Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 13, 2011
Page 1 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Staff
Interview

Document
Review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
notification to parents and students
who reach the age of majority.
Student records indicated the
district is following established
procedures.
The district does not have a need
for educational interpreters at this
time. An assurance was provided
that when one is necessary, the
district will employ an individual
who is registered with the
Massachusetts Commission for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Danvers Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 13, 2011
Page 2 of 6
(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
SE 6
Transition
Services
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
SE 13
Progress
Reports
SE 18A
IEP
Development
and Content

Student
Records

Student
Records
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Student records indicated that the
IEP Team discusses the student
transition needs and on or before
the student 14th birthday, and
updates information annually
using the required Transition
Planning Form.
Student records indicated that the
district sends written information
to the parent on the student’s
progress towards meeting the
goals and objectives set forth in
the IEP. The district informs
parents on such progress as
frequently as parents of nondisabled student are informed.
Student records indicated that
once eligibility has been
determined, the IEP Team
develops an IEP using the most
updated format provided by the
DESE. The district also signs the
Danvers Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 13, 2011
Page 3 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
.
.
Criterion
SE 18B
Determination
of Placement;
provision of
IEP to parent
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation

Student
Records

Document
Review
SE 34
Continuum of
Services
SE 37
Procedures for
out of district
placements
SE 40
Instructional
Grouping

Student
Records

Document
Review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
IEP ensuring that the IEP will not
be changed at a higher
administrative level.
Student records indicated that
immediately following the
development of the IEP, the
district provides the parent with
two copies of the proposed IEP,
along with the required notice.
A review of documentation
indicated that the district has
developed and maintained a
continuum of alternative services
and placements to meet to the
needs of students with
disabilities.
Student records indicated that the
district monitors the provision of
programs and services to
individual students placed in
public and private out-of district
placements. Documentation of
monitoring plans and all actual
monitoring are placed in student
files.
Based on a review of documents,
the district has met the
instructional grouping
Danvers Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 13, 2011
Page 4 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
.
.
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
SE 54
Professional
Development

Document
Review
SE 56
Facilities

Observation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
requirements. The district does
not currently have any
instructional groups that exceed
the student to teacher ratio
requirements
A review of documents indicated
that the district has offered
professional development to all
staff on special education
policies and procedures, the
accommodation of diverse
learning styles in general
education, and the methods of
collaboration among teachers,
paraprofessionals and teacher
assistants to accommodate the
diverse learning styles of
students in general education.
A facilities tour of Great Oak
Elementary School determined
that signs have been removed
from special education and
related service classrooms.
Additionally, the district has
relocated the occupational
therapy services students receive
to a space that is equal in all
Danvers Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 13, 2011
Page 5 of 6
(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
physical respects to the average
standards of the general
education facilities and
classrooms.
Danvers Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 13, 2011
Page 6 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements