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
January 17, 2012
Dr. Regina Nash, Superintendent
Frontier Regional School District
219 Christian Lane
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Dr. Nash:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the onsite
visit conducted in your district in November 2011. 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 February 3, 2012.
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 me at 413 314-6708.
Sincerely,
Tom Hidalgo, 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
Jean Jonker, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Robert Halla, School Committee Chairperson
Karen Ferrandino, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Frontier Regional School District
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: November 21, 2011
Date of this Report: January 17, 2012
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)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Review of student records and
interviews indicated that one
year prior to the student
reaching age 18, the district
informs the student and the
parent/guardian of the rights
that will transfer from the
parent/guardian to the student
upon the student’s 18th
birthday. Upon reaching 18,
Interview
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Frontier Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 17, 2012
Page 1 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
the district obtains consent
from students to continue their
special education program.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance
SE 18A
IEP
Development
and content

Student
Records
Interview

Student
Records
Interview
Review of student records and
interviews indicated that all
required members of the Team
are present at Team meetings.
Also, the district does employ
the use of written parental
excusals for the absence of
any Team member. When a
Team member’s participation
is required, the excused
member provides written input
for the development of the IEP
prior to the scheduled
meeting.
Review of student records and
interviews indicated the IEP
Team considers and addresses
the skills and proficiencies
needed to avoid and respond
to bullying for students
Frontier Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 17, 2012
Page 2 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
identified with a disability on
the autism spectrum, or
students whose disability
makes him or her vulnerable
to bullying, harassment, or
teasing.
SE 25
Parental
consent

Student
Records
Interview
Review of student records and
interviews indicated that the
district obtained consent
before initiating programs and
services for students.
No parents revoked consent to
the student’s special education
services; however, the district
is knowledgeable about the
requirements regarding
revocation of consent by the
parent/guardian.
Frontier Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 17, 2012
Page 3 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
Criterion
Implemented

SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs

SE 18 B
Determination of
placement;
Provision of
IEP
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Student record review and
interviews indicated that the
district holds a Team meeting
to consider the student’s
progress and to review, revise,
or develop a new IEP or refer
the student for a re-evaluation,
as appropriate within one year
of the anniversary date of the
IEP.
Interview
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
Interview
Student record review and
interviews indicated that the
district did not always provide
the parent with the proposed
IEP within the required
timelines.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(b) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Conduct an analysis of a cross
section of IEPs (annuals,
initials, re-evaluations
conducted at all levels) from the
past year to determine why
parents are not routinely being
provided with the proposed IEP
and placement within the
Submit a
description of
the root causes
of the
noncompliance,
the steps the
district will take
to correct the
Frontier Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 17, 2012
Page 4 of 6
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:
(b) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
required timelines.
Based on the results of the
analysis, provide the district’s
determination of the root
cause(s) of the noncompliance,
along with the steps the district
proposes to take to correct the
root causes and a timeline for
the implementation of those
corrections.
Select a sample of student
records for IEPs at all levels
(elementary, middle, and high
school), and all types of activity
(annuals, initials, reevaluations), conducted after the
completion of the root cause
analysis, and implementation of
all corrective actions and review
for compliance with timelines.
*Please note that when
monitoring the district must
maintain the following
Frontier Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 17, 2012
Page 5 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
root cause(s)
and the
proposed
timeline for
implementation
of corrective
action by
March 16,
2012.
Submit the
results of the
internal review
of student
records,
including the
number of
records
reviewed;
number of
records in
compliance; for
all records not
in compliance
with this
criterion,
provide the
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:
(b) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
documentation and make it
available to the Department
upon request: a) List of student
names and grade levels for the
record review; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of persons
who conducted the review,
their roles and their signatures.
results of a root
cause analysis
of the noncompliance and
specific
corrective
actions taken by
the district to
remedy any
noncompliance, by
June 15, 2012.
Frontier Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 17, 2012
Page 6 of 6
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Frontier Regional School District
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