75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096 Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
June 18, 2013
Dr. David Hopson, Superintendent
Gateway Regional School District
12 Littleville Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Hopson:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in March 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: 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 2015-2016 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 Beth Lopez at
413-314-6703.
Sincerely,
D. Beth Lopez, 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
Michelle Poulin, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Beth Brett, School Committee Chairperson
Alice Taverna, Local Program Review Coordinator
Enc: Mid-cycle Report
2

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Gateway Regional School District
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: March 21, 2013
Date of this Report: June 18, 2013
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
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

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
SE 7
Transfer of parental rights and student participation and consent at age of majority

Student record review
Document review
Interview
The district does provide notice to the student and parent at least one year prior to the student’s 18 th birthday explicitly stating the rights that will transfer from the parent to the student upon reaching the age of majority.
Additionally, when the student reaches the age of 18, the district implements procedures to obtain
If Partially Implemented or Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Gateway Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 18, 2013
Page 1 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion
SE 8
IEP Team composition and attendance
SE 18A
IEP

Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion consent from the student to continue the student’s special education program as required.
Student record review
Document review
Interview
Team meetings are attended by all required Team members. Members of the Team attend Team meetings unless the parent and the district agree to use alternative means to meet, such as conference call or video conference; or the district and parent agree, in writing, that the attendance of the Team member is not required because the member’s area is not being modified or discussed; or the district and parent agree, in writing, to excuse a required Team member and the excused member provides written input into the development of the
IEP to the parent and Team prior to the meeting.
Student Team members complete all record review elements of the current IEP format as required.
Gateway Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 18, 2013
Page 2 of 7
If Partially Implemented or Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion
Development and content
SE 25
Parental consent
Criterion
Implemented



Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Document review
Interview
During the Team meeting, whenever an evaluation indicates that a student has a disability that affects social skills, or makes that student vulnerable to bullying, teasing or harassment, the Team 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 Team considers and specifically addresses the skills and proficiencies needed to avoid and respond to bullying, harassment and teasing.
Student
The district’s efforts to secure record review consent are implemented through multiple attempts using a variety of
Document methods that are documented by the review district. Parents are informed of their right to revoke consent at any time in writing and that the district
Interview has an obligation to discontinue
Gateway Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 18, 2013
Page 3 of 7
If Partially Implemented or Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(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 special education services and may not use mediation, or request a hearing, to obtain agreement or a ruling requiring the continuation of services.
The district then promptly provides written notice of the district’s proposal to discontinue services based on the revocation of consent and provides the parent with information about how the parent can obtain a copy of the right to procedural safeguards.
This notice is provided within a reasonable time before the district intends to discontinue services.
If Partially Implemented or Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Gateway Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 18, 2013
Page 4 of 7

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

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
SE 6
Determination of transition services

Student record review
Interview
The district discusses and updates the student’s transition needs annually
(beginning no later than when the student turns 14) and documents the discussion on the Transition
Planning Form which is placed in the student’s file.
For students approaching the age of 22 the Team determines whether the student will require continuing services from other agencies and makes a referral to the Bureau of
Transitional Planning in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 688.
Gateway Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 18, 2013
Page 5 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion
SE 14
Review and revision of
IEPs
SE 18B
Determination of placement; provision of
IEP to parent
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
Student record review
Interview
Student record review
Interview
The district holds Team meetings at least annually, on or before the anniversary date of the IEP, to consider the student’s progress and to review, revise, or develop a new IEP, or refer the student for an evaluation.
In between annual reviews the district and the parent may agree to make changes to a student’s IEP, documented in writing, without convening the Team.
The parent is provided with a revised copy of the IEP with amendments incorporated.
The district provides a summary of the decisions and agreements reached at the conclusion of the Team meeting. The summary, at a minimum, includes a completed IEP service delivery grid describing the types and amounts of special education and/or related
Gateway Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 18, 2013
Page 6 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion
SE 24
Notice to the
Parent
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
Student record review
Interview services proposed by the district and a statement of the major goal areas associated with these services. The district then provides the parent with two copies of the proposed IEP and proposed placement immediately after the IEP is developed. The provision of two copies is documented on the Notice of
Proposed School District
Action (N1).
The district consistently provides the Notice of
Proposed School District
Action (N1) that includes complete information on the actions the district is proposing to take and the reasons for the proposal; any rejected options considered by the district, and reasons for rejections; the evaluation and test results discussed; additional relevant factors discussed; and the district’s next steps.
Gateway Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 18, 2013
Page 7 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements