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
August 18, 2010
Dr. Stacy Scott, Superintendent
Dracut Public Schools
2063 Lakeview Avenue
Dracut, Ma 01826
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendant Scott:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district in April 2010. 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 information gathered from one or more of the following activities: staff
interviews, review of student records, examination of documentation, and/or classroom
observation.
The Department found one or more of the criteria monitored in your district to be
“Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where noncompliance
has been 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 September 8, 2010.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have
1
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
Elizabeth Ahern, Ed. D., Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Mathew Sheehan, School Committee Chairperson
Steven Stone, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Dracut Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: April 30, 2010
Date of this Report: August 18, 2010
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 3
Special
requirements
for the
determination
of specific
learning
disability
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records and
Staff
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Student record review and
interviews indicated that the
district is appropriately evaluating
students suspected of having a
specific learning disability.
Written documentation was
evident in the student records,
including the written
determination form and where
applicable signed statements of
agreement or written dissent.
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 1 of 14
(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
Documentation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The district currently does not
have a need for educational
interpreters. An assurance was
provided that when one is required
to support a student, the district
will employ an individual who is
registered with the Massachusetts
Commission for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing.
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 2 of 14
(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 4
Criterion
Implemented

SE 6
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion

Student
Records
A review of student records
indicated that school district
personnel who conduct
evaluations define in detail and in
educationally relevant and
common terms, the student’s
needs and offer an explicit means
of meeting those needs.

Student
Records and
Staff Interviews
Student records indicated that the
Team reviews and annually
updates the Transition Planning
Form and the IEP, as appropriate.
Additionally, interviews indicated
that for students who will likely
require continuing service from an
adult human service agency, the
administrator of special education
makes the referral to the Bureau
of Transitional Planning in the
Executive Office of Health and
Human Services (also known as a
Chapter 688 referral).
Reports of
Assessment
Results
Determination
of Transition
Services
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 3 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 9
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

Timeline for
Determination
of Eligibility
and Provision
to Parent
SE 11
School District
Response to
Parental
Request for
Independent
Educational
Evaluation
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Student records revealed that the
district has completed all
evaluations within the 45 day
timeline after receipt of parent’s
written consent to an initial
evaluation or re-evaluation.
Student
Records,
Documentation
and Staff
Interviews
Based on a review of
documentation, the district has
revised the district policy on the
use of the “Sliding Fee” scale as
noted in CMR 28.00 and makes
that option available to parents as
required. In addition, the district
has revised the letter of
notification to school personnel
clarifying the full responsibility of
school personnel, as noted in
Administrative Advisory SPED
2004-1. The district’s letter of
clarification now includes
information regarding whether the
district must pay for the
evaluation or proceed to the
Bureau of Special Education
Appeals (BSEA) to demonstrate
why the district’s evaluation was
sufficient.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
The district must conduct an
analysis of the procedures related
to independent educational
evaluations requested by parents
and identify any practices that
may lead to non-compliance.
The district then must plan and
implement actions that will
address the underlying cause of
the continued non-compliance in
this area.
Once the corrective action has
been implemented the district
must notify all Team
Chairpersons of any changes in
the district’s policies or
procedures related to independent
educational evaluations requested
by parents.
Post training; please conduct an
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 4 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit a narrative
description that
identifies the root
cause of the
continued noncompliance and a
description of the
corrective action
steps taken. Please
be sure to include the
timeline of the
actions taken by the
district and indicate
the staff member(s)
responsible for the
implementation by
name and role.
Please be sure to
include sufficient,
relevant
documentation of the
corrective action
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
However, student records
demonstrated that upon receipt of
an independent educational
evaluation report, the district does
not always reconvene the Team
within 10 school days as required,
to consider the independent
educational evaluation and
whether a new or amended IEP is
appropriate.
administrative review of student
records where the parent has
requested an independent
educational evaluation. Please be
sure to verify that the Team has
reconvened within 10 school
days upon receipt of an
independent educational
evaluation
*Please note that when
conducting internal monitoring
the district must maintain the
following documentation and
make it available to the
Department upon request: a)
List of student names and
grade level for the record
review; b) Date of the review;
c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, their
roles(s), and their signature(s)
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
steps taken that
effectively
demonstrate the
district’s efforts to
correct the continued
non-compliance and
submit this to the
Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Please submit
evidence, such as
meeting agendas or
notification that all
staff has been made
aware of the changes
in the district’s
procedures related to
independent
educational
evaluations requested
by parents to the
Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Additionally, post
implementation of
these corrective
actions, please
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 5 of 14
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
submit the results of
the administrative
review conducted to
ensure that the Team
has reconvened
within 10 school days
upon receipt of an
independent
educational
evaluation. Identify
the name and role of
the reviewer, the
number of records
reviewed from each
level, the number of
records found to be
compliant, the root
cause of any
continuing noncompliance and any
steps taken to correct
concerns identified in
the process to the
Department on or
before January 17,
2011.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and

Student
Records
Student records indicated that
parents receive reports on student
progress towards completion of
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 6 of 14
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation

Student
Records
Student records indicated upon
determining the student is eligible
for special education, the Team,
including the parents develop an
IEP.

Student
Records and
Staff Interviews
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that
immediately following the IEP,
parents are provided with two (2)
copies of the IEP and proposed
placement.

Documentation,
Student
Records and
Staff Interviews
Based on a review of
documentation, staff interview,
and student records, it is evident
that the district has a continuum
of alternative services and
IEP
Development
and Content
SE18B
Determination
of Placement;
Provision of
IEP to Parent
SE20
Least
Restrictive
Program
Selected
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
their IEP goals as often as parents
are informed on the progress of
non-disabled students.
Additionally, the progress report
information sent to parents
includes written information on
the student’s progress towards the
annual goals in the IEP.
Content
SE18A
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 7 of 14
(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
placements to meet the needs of
students with disabilities. As a
result, when determining the least
restrictive environment for
students, the Team is adequately
prepared to consider any harmful
effect on the student or on the
quality of services that he or she
needs.
SE 21

Student
Records and
Staff Interviews
Student records indicated that the
Team routinely considers the need
for an educational program that is
less than or more than the regular
school day and indicates why the
longer or shorter program is
necessary on the IEP.

Student
Records
Student records indicated that
staff members routinely address
the key questions on the Notice of
Proposed School District Action
form (N1), providing education
decision makers with adequate
information regarding school
district proposals.
School Day
and School
Year
Requirements
SE 24
Notice
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 8 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 25
Criterion
Implemented

Student records indicated the
district has a process in place to
ensure that upon receipt of the
IEP, parents sign both the IEP and
placement page.

Documentation
and Staff
Interviews
Documentation and staff
interviews indicated the district
has a continuum of alternative
placement and services available
to meet the needs of students with
disabilities in the district,
including those students who are
emotionally impaired.

Student
Records
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that the Team
consistently considers the use of
assistive technology for students
with disabilities throughout the
district.

Student
Records
Student records indicated that the
district consistently monitors the
provision of services to and the
Assistive
Technology;
Specialized
Material and
Equipment
SE 37
Procedures for
Approved and
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Continuum of
Alternative
Services and
Placements
SE 35
Method(s) of
Investigation

Parent
Consent
SE 34
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 9 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation

Documentation
and Staff
Interview
A review of the documentation in
addition to staff interviews
indicated that all of the direct
service classrooms for students
with disabilities at the high school
meet the instructional grouping
requirements for students ages 5
and older.

Student
Records
Student records indicated that for
students whose behavior impedes
their learning or the learning of
others, the Team routinely
considers the use of positive
behavioral interventions and
supports and the possible need for
a functional behavioral
assessment.
Instructional
Grouping
SE 43
Behavioral
Interventions
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
programs of individual students
placed in out-of district programs.
Student records contained
documentation of monitoring
plans for student who have been
placed in out-of district programs,
and evidence of required site
visits.
Un-approved
Out-ofDistrict
Placements
SE 40
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 10 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 44
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

Procedures for
Recording
Suspension
SE 46
Procedures for
Suspension of
Students with
Disabilities
when
Suspensions
Exceed 10
Consecutive
School Days
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Documentation,
Staff
Interviews, and
Student
Records
Based on a review of
documentation, student records,
and staff interviews, the district
has procedures to record and track
the number and duration of
suspensions from a student’s
program.
Student
Records, and
Staff Interviews
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that once a
student has been suspended for 10
consecutive or cumulative days,
the IEP team reconvenes within
10 days to conduct a
manifestation determination as
required. However, in cases where
the IEP team determines that the
behavior was not a manifestation
of the student’s disability, the
district does not always offer
services for the student to
continue to progress in the general
education curriculum and to
progress towards IEP goals for the
duration of the removal beyond
the 10th consecutive or
cumulative day of suspension.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Please develop policies and
procedures to ensure that
students, while suspended for
more than 10 consecutive or
cumulative days are still afforded
the opportunity to continue to
progress both in general
education and on their IEP goals.
Included in the newly developed
polices, please develop a protocol
to ensure the oversight and
tracking of the services students
receive once they have been
suspended for more than 10
consecutive or cumulative days.
Once the policies and procedures
have been developed, please
notify all staff of their role
related to compliance with the
newly developed policies and
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 11 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Please submit a copy
of the newly
developed polices
and procedures to
ensure that students
are afforded the
opportunity to
continue to progress
in general education
and their IEP goals
once they have been
suspended for more
than 10 consecutive
or cumulative days to
the Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Please also provide
evidence that
appropriate staff
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
procedures.
Finally, please conduct an
administrative review of
discipline data to ensure that once
a student has been suspended for
more than 10 consecutive or
cumulative days, they are still
being provided to access to
services that allow them to
continue to progress in general
education and on their IEP goals.
* Please note that when
conducting internal monitoring
the district must maintain the
following documentation and
make it available to the
Department upon request: a)
List of student names and
grade level for the record
review; b) Date of the review;
c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, their
roles(s), and their signature(s).
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 12 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
members have
received training and
notification on the
newly developed
polices and
procedures to the
Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Please submit, post
implementation of
these corrective
actions, a narrative
description of the
results of the
administrative review
of discipline data to
ensure that students
are afforded the
opportunity to
progress in general
education and on
their IEP goals once
they have been
suspended for 10
consecutive or
cumulative days.
Identify the name and
role of the reviewer,
the types of data
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
reviews, the number
of student files
reviewed,
information on the
rate of compliance,
the root cause of any
continuing noncompliance and any
steps taken to correct
concerns identified in
the process to the
Department on or
before January 17,
2011.
SE 48
Equal
Opportunity to
Participate in
Educational,
Nonacademic,
Extracurricular,
and Ancillary
Programs

Student
Records
Student records indicated that IEP
Teams routinely consider whether
students may require adapted
physical education.
SE 54

Documentation
and Staff
Interviews
A review of documentation
demonstrated that the district has
provided special education staff
with on-going training regarding
state and federal special education
regulations as well as local
policies and procedures.
Professional
Development
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 13 of 14
Criterion
SE 56
Special
Education
Programs and
Services
Evaluated
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Facilities
Observation
and Staff
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
A facilities observation
demonstrated that when students
in the Life Skills class require
direct service from a related
service provider, they have access
to an easily accessible,
appropriate instructional space.
Dracut Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 18, 2010
Page 14 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Dracut Public Schools
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