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 25, 2012
Marta Montleon, Superintendent
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School
251 Stonehaven Road
Fall River, MA 02723
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Montleon:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the onsite visit
conducted in your district in January 2012. 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 2014 –
2015 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. If you have questions about this letter or
the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Doryce Smith at 781-338-3718.
Sincerely,
Doryce Smith, 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
Vani Rastogi-Kelly, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Karl Hetzler, School Committee Chairperson
Debbie Pacheco, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs:
Mid-cycle Report
1
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: January 19, 2012
Date of this Report: January 25, 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
Student
Records
Interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The district follows appropriate
procedures when the student,
upon reaching the age of
majority, chooses to delegate
continued decision-making to
his or her parent or other willing
adult.
One year prior to the student
reaching age 18, the district
informs the student and the
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 25, 2012
Page 1 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented


SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
parent/guardian of the rights that
will transfer from the
parent/guardian to the student
upon the student’s 18th birthday.
The notification provided to
both the student and the
parent/guardian states that all
rights accorded to parents under
special education law will
transfer to the 18 year old
student.
Members of the Team attend
IEP Team meetings unless:
 The district and parent
agree, in writing, that the
attendance of the Team
member is not necessary
because the member’s
area of the curriculum or
related services is not
being modified or
discussed; or
 The district and parent
agree, in writing, to
excuse a required Team
member’s participation
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 25, 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
Student
Records
Interview
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
and the excused member
provides written input
into the development of
the IEP to the parent and
IEP Team prior to the
meeting.
IEP Teams consider and address
the skills and proficiencies
needed to avoid and respond to
bullying, harassment, or teasing
for students identified with a
disability that affects social
skills development or when the
student’s disability makes him
or her vulnerable to bullying,
harassment or teasing, as well as
for students identified with a
disability on the autism
spectrum.
Information regarding bullying,
teasing, or harassment is
documented in the IEP and in
the Notice of Proposed School
District Action (N1).
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 25, 2012
Page 3 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
Student
Records
The district consistently obtains
written parental consent prior to
conducting an evaluation.
Interview
SE 25
Parental
consent
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
When a parent revokes consent,
in writing, to special education
services, the district provides
written notice to the parent of its
proposal to discontinue services
based on the revocation of
consent as well as information
on how the parent can obtain a
copy of his/her rights to
procedural safeguards. The
district provides notice within a
reasonable time before it intends
to discontinue services. Staff are
aware that they may not use
mediation or request a due
process hearing to obtain
agreement or a ruling for
continuation of services.
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 25, 2012
Page 4 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 1
Assessments
are
appropriately
selected and
interpreted
for students
referred for
evaluation

SE 4
Reports of
assessments
results

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Interview
Student
Records
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Assessments are tailored to
assess specific areas of
educational need and related
developmental need and are
consented-to by parents, as
well as listed on the
evaluation consent form.
Reports of assessment
results include summaries
and diagnostic impressions,
and define in detail and in
educationally relevant and
common terms, the student’s
needs, offering explicit
means of meeting those
needs.
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 25, 2012
Page 5 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 26
Parent
participation
in meetings
Criterion
Implemented


SE 48
Equal
opportunity to
participate in
educational,
nonacademic,
extracurricular,
and ancillary
programs, as
well as
participation in
general
education

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Document
Review
Interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
In cases when a Team
meeting is held without a
parent in attendance, the
district documents its
attempts to facilitate the
parents’ participation in the
student record.
Special education students
placed in the General Shop
program participate in the
district’s physical education
classes.
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 25, 2012
Page 6 of 6
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements