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
November 28, 2011
Dr. Sonia Pope, Charter School Leader
Holyoke Community Charter School
2200 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040-3430
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Dr. Pope:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in June 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 December 15, 2011.
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 Joan
Brinckerhoff at 781-338-3715.
Sincerely,
Joan Brinckerhoff, Ph.D., 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 Y. Ahern, Ed. D., Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Anne Darcy, Charter School Board of Trustees Chairperson
Kristen O’Connor, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
HOLYOKE COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: June 7-8, 2011
Date of this Report: November 28, 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
SE 7
Transfer of
parental
rights at age
of majority
and student
participation
and consent
at the age of
majority
Criterion
Implemented

Not
Applicable
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 charter school serves students
in grades K-8.
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 1 of 21
(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
Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The charter school does not
currently have any students that
require an educational interpreter;
however procedures are in place to
ensure that providers of
interpreting services for students
who are deaf or hard of hearing are
registered with the Massachusetts
Commission for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing.
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 2 of 21
(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 1
Assessments are
Appropriately
Selected and
Interpreted
SE 2
Required and
Optional
Assessments
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Student records demonstrated that
assessments are appropriately
selected and interpreted for
students who are referred for
evaluation.
Staff
Interviews
Student record review indicated
that required and optional
assessments are not consistently
completed, specifically
Educational Assessment A and B,
as part of the eligibility
determination for students.
Student
Records
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
The charter school must conduct a
root cause analysis related to
completion of required and optional
assessments to determine why
assessments are not consistently
completed. Once the analysis is
complete the charter school must
develop appropriate corrective
action steps, which include the
development of an oversight and
tracking system to ensure
compliance with the completion of
required and optional assessments.
The charter school must conduct an
administrative review of student
records for students who have
undergone an initial or re-evaluation
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 3 of 21
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit a
description of the
changes in
procedures or
other strategies
implemented by
the charter school
as a result of its
analysis and any
corresponding
timelines to
ensure that all
consented-to
assessments are
completed. Please
submit evidence
that all staff
responsible for
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
subsequent to the charter school’s
implementation of all corrective
action activities to determine if the
charter school is compliant with the
requirements of this criterion.
implementing
these changes
have been trained
by January 31,
2012.
*Please note 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 levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the review; c)
Name of person(s) who conducted
the review, with their role(s) and
signature(s).
Also, please
submit the
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking
system and
identify the
person(s)
responsible for
the oversight,
including the date
for the system’s
implementation
on or before
January 31,
2012.
Submit the results
of the
administrative
review of student
records. Indicate
the number of
records reviewed,
the number found
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 4 of 21
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
to be compliant,
an explanation of
the root cause for
any continued
noncompliance
and a description
of additional
corrective actions
taken by the
charter school to
address any
identified
noncompliance.
Please submit this
to the Department
on or before
April 30, 2012.
SE 3
Special
Requirements
for
Determination
of Specific
Learning
Disability

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
The charter school consistently
implements all requirements for
the determination of specific
learning disability (SLD). Teams
routinely complete the written
determination by all Team
members.
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 5 of 21
Criterion
SE 4
Report of
Assessment
Results
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student record review and
interviews with staff members
demonstrated that contracted
related service providers (speech
language and occupational
therapy) do not define in detail
and in educationally relevant and
common terms the student’s
needs or offer explicit means of
meeting them.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Provide training to contracted
evaluators on the required
components of diagnostic
impressions and educationally
relevant information in assessment
reports.
Further, the charter school must
develop an internal oversight and
tracking system to ensure that
assessment results contain all the
required elements including
educationally relevant information
as well as explicit means of meeting
the student’s needs.
The charter school must conduct an
administrative review of student
records for students who have
undergone an initial or re-evaluation
subsequent to the charter school’s
implementation of all corrective
action activities to determine if the
charter school is compliant with the
requirements of this criterion.
*Please note when conducting
internal monitoring the district
must maintain the following
documentation and make it
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 6 of 21
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit evidence
of training related
to contracted
assessment
reports which will
include but not be
limited to a
training agenda,
attendance sheet
and copies of the
materials
presented. Also
please submit the
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking
system and
identify the
person(s)
responsible for
the oversight,
including the date
for the system’s
implementation
on or before
January 31,
2012.
Submit the results
of 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:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
available to the Department upon
request: a) List of student names
and grade levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the review; c)
Name of person(s) who conducted
the review, with their role(s) and
signature(s).
SE 8
Team
Composition
and Attendance

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Student record review and
interviews with staff members
demonstrated that IEP Teams
routinely were attended by all
required team members.
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 7 of 21
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
administrative
review of student
records. Indicate
the number of
records reviewed,
the number found
to be compliant,
an explanation of
the root cause for
any continued
noncompliance
and a description
of additional
corrective actions
taken by the
charter school to
address any
identified
noncompliance.
Please submit this
to the Department
on or before
April 30, 2012.
Criterion
SE 9
Timeline for
Determination
of Eligibility
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
The student record review
indicated that timelines for
eligibility determination were not
consistently met by the charter
school.
The charter school must conduct a
root cause analysis related to
timelines for determination of
eligibility to determine why the
timelines are not consistently met.
Once the analysis is complete the
charter school must develop
appropriate corrective action steps,
which include the development of
an oversight and tracking system to
ensure compliance with the required
timelines.
The charter school must conduct an
administrative review of student
records for students who have
undergone an initial evaluation
subsequent to the charter school’s
implementation of all corrective
action activities to determine if the
charter school is compliant with the
requirements of this criterion.
*Please note 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 levels for the records
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 8 of 21
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit a
description of the
changes in
procedures or
other strategies
implemented by
the charter school
as a result of its
analysis and any
associated
timelines to
ensure
compliance with
the 45-day
timeline. Please
submit evidence
that all staff
responsible for
implementing
these changes
have been trained
by January 31,
2012.
Also, please
submit the
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking
system and
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
reviewed; b) Date of the review; c)
Name of person(s) who conducted
the review, with their role(s) and
signature(s).
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
identify the
person(s)
responsible for
the oversight,
including the date
for the system’s
implementation
on or before
January 31,
2012.
Submit the results
of the
administrative
review of student
records. Indicate
the number of
records reviewed,
the number found
to be compliant,
an explanation of
the root cause for
any continued
noncompliance
and a description
of additional
corrective actions
taken by the
charter school to
address any
identified
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 9 of 21
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
noncompliance.
Please submit this
to the Department
on or before
April 30, 2012.
SE 9A
Elements of
Eligibility
Determination

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
While the charter school does not
consistently meet timelines for
determining eligibility, they do
ensure general education
accommodations and services for
ineligible students. When a
student is determined to be no
longer eligible or ineligible for
special education, the student
may be referred to the Section
504 coordinator if appropriate. In
addition the charter school
implements a response to
intervention model and has
extensive support for reading and
other academics as well as
replacement instruction.
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 10 of 21
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 10
End of School
Year
Evaluations

SE 11
Independent
Educational
Evaluation

SE 12
Frequency of
Reevaluation

SE 13
Progress
Reports
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
PI
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
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that the
charter school consistently
ensures that Team meetings are
scheduled up to14 days beyond
the end of school to allow for
provision of a proposed IEP or a
written notice of the
determination of no eligibility.
Independent Educational
Evaluations (IEE) are provided in
accordance with state and federal
regulations.
Student
Records
The charter school provides for a
reevaluation for each eligible
student within three years.
Student
Records
A review of student records
indicated that the charter school
does not consistently provide the
parents of special needs students
with reports on the student's
The charter school must conduct a
root cause analysis related to
provision of progress reports during
the 2010-2011 school year in order
to determine why special education
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 11 of 21
Please submit a
narrative
description of the
outcomes of the
charter school’s
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
progress toward reaching the
goals set in the IEP at least as
often as parents are informed of
the progress of non-disabled
students.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
staff members inconsistently
completed student progress reports.
Once the analysis is complete the
charter school must develop
appropriate corrective action steps,
which include the development of
an oversight and tracking system to
ensure compliance with the
provision of progress reports.
The charter school must conduct an
administrative review of student
records for progress reports
completed subsequent to the charter
school’s implementation of all
corrective action activities to
determine if the charter school is
compliant with the requirements of
this criterion.
*Please note 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 levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the review; c)
Name of person(s) who conducted
the review, with their role(s) and
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 12 of 21
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
analysis, the
corresponding
corrective actions
and any
associated
timelines. Also,
include a
description of the
tracking system
and the person(s)
responsible for
the oversight.
Please submit this
to the Department
on or before
January 31,
2012.
Submit the results
of the
administrative
review of student
records. Indicate
the number of
records reviewed,
the number found
to be compliant,
an explanation of
the root cause for
any continued
noncompliance
Criterion
SE 14
Review and
revision of IEPs
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Record review demonstrated that
the charter school is not
consistently holding Team
Meetings before the anniversary
date of the current IEP. The
tracking system used by the
district requires individual
tracking for each student instead
of an annual print out with dates
for when the actual meetings
were held.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
signature(s).
and a description
of additional
corrective actions
taken by the
charter school to
address any
identified
noncompliance.
Please submit this
to the Department
on or before
April 30, 2012.
The charter school must conduct a
root cause analysis related to annual
review and revision of student IEPs
during the 2010-2011 school year in
order to determine why Team
Meetings are not consistently held
on or before the anniversary date of
the current IEP. Once the analysis
is complete the charter school must
develop appropriate corrective
action steps, which include the
development of an oversight and
tracking system to ensure
compliance with review and
revision of IEPs.
Please submit a
narrative
description of the
outcomes of the
charter school’s
analysis, the
corresponding
corrective actions
and the associated
timelines. Also,
include a
description of the
tracking system
and the person(s)
responsible for
the oversight.
Please submit this
to the Department
The charter school must conduct an
administrative review of student
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 13 of 21
(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
records for annual reviews
completed subsequent to the charter
school’s implementation of all
corrective action activities to
determine if the charter school is
compliant with the requirements of
this criterion.
*Please note 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 levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the review; c)
Name of person(s) who conducted
the review, with their role(s) and
signature(s).
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 14 of 21
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
on or before
January 31,
2012.
Submit the results
of the
administrative
review of student
records. Indicate
the number of
records reviewed,
the number found
to be compliant,
an explanation of
the root cause for
any continued
noncompliance
and a description
of additional
corrective actions
taken by the
charter school to
address any
identified
noncompliance.
Please submit this
to the Department
on or before
April 30, 2012.
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
SE 18A
IEP
Development

Student
Records
Student record review
demonstrated that IEPs address
all required elements.
SE 18B
Determination
of Placement;
Provision of IEP
to Parent

Student
Records
Student record review and
interviews with staff indicated
that decisions regarding
placement are based on the IEP
and student needs. The charter
school provides the parent with
the IEP immediately.
SE 19
Extended
Evaluation

Staff
Interviews
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
SE 20
Least
Restrictive
Environment

Student
Records
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Student record review and staff
interviews demonstrated that
extended evaluations are provided
to obtain additional information
in a specific area. If a partial IEP
can be developed, it is completed.
Extended evaluations are
completed within eight weeks.
Student record review
demonstrated that the
nonparticipation statements are
individualized for all students.
The charter school has extended
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 15 of 21
(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
their inclusion model to include a
“push in” option, which provides
students with both academic and
related service needs in the
general education classroom
setting.
SE 22
IEP
Implementation
and Availability

Staff
Interviews
Interviews indicated that the
charter school operates a SABIS
model, which includes Academic
Quality Controllers that are
responsible for overseeing all
services in general education
classrooms and facilitates the
oversight of special education
services. The special education
administrator and the charter
school director both routinely
review services and spend large
amounts of time in the
classrooms.
SE 24
Parental Notice

Student
Records
A review of student records
showed that parental notice forms
consistently respond to the six
federally required questions and
indicate the function of the
proposal or refusal to initiate or
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 16 of 21
(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
change the identification,
evaluation or educational
placement of the student.
SE 25
Parental
Consent

Student
Records
Student records demonstrated that
parental consent is consistently
documented for all evaluations
and for IEPs and amendments.
SE 25A
Notice to
Special
Education
Appeals

Student
Records
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that the
charter school has not had a
request for a hearing or a recent
rejection of an IEP or finding of
no eligibility, however
procedures are in place to ensure
compliance with this criterion.
SE 26
Parent
Participation in
Meetings

Staff
Interviews
Student
Records
Student records demonstrated that
parent participation is
consistently documented on the
Team meeting attendance sheet.
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 17 of 21
(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
SE 27
Content of
Team Meeting
Notice

Student
Records
Student records indicated that the
Team meeting notices for the
charter school consistently state
the purpose, time and location of
the meeting as well as who will
be in attendance.
SE 32
Parent Advisory
Council

Document
Review
A review of documentation and
interviews demonstrated that the
charter school PAC has
membership that is offered to all
parents of students with
disabilities and is open to other
interested parties. The workshop
on parent and student rights was
provided on November 15, 2010.
The PAC has established by-laws
and receives support from the
charter school for meetings and
numerous additional workshops.
Staff
Interviews
SE 33
Involvement in
the General
Education
Curriculum

Student
Records
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Student records showed that the
charter school routinely
documents the student’s
participation in the general
education curriculum in the
Present Level of Performance A
section of the IEP. Regular
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 18 of 21
(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
education teachers are present at
the IEP Team meetings.
SE 34
Continuum of
Alternative
Services and
Placements

Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
A review of documentation and
interviews indicated that the
charter school has developed a
strong continuum of placements
for special education that include:
full inclusion, consultation,
resource room, partial inclusion
and home-based instruction. In
addition, related services are
provided in the classroom and in
pull out mode.
The charter school also provides
extensive reading support and
replacement instruction.
SE 36
IEP
Implementation,
Accountability
and Fiscal
Responsibility

Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
A review of documentation and
interviews with staff members
showed that the charter school
provides oversight for the
implementation of the IEPs in a
variety of ways: the supervision
of special education staff by the
special education administrator
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 19 of 21
(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
and the Director of the charter
school, use of the SABIS quality
control model, as well as
conducting a high frequency of
assessments for mastery of
instructional material.
SE 40
Instructional
Grouping
Requirements

Document
Review
A review of documentation
indicated that the size and
composition of instructional
groups for special education
students meet all of the
requirements.
SE 50
Administrator
of Special
Education

Document
Review
The Special Education
Administrator of a charter school
is not required to have a special
education administrator’s license.
The charter school’s
documentation demonstrated that
the current administrator has the
qualifications to perform the
duties assigned.
SE 54
Professional
Development

Document
Review
A review of documentation
demonstrated that the charter
school provided extensive
evidence of training in inclusion,
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 20 of 21
(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
differentiated instruction, state
and federal laws and regulations
and collaboration as well as for
other numerous topics.
SE 55
Special
Education
Facilities and
Classrooms

Onsite
Review of
Facilities
An onsite review of the charter
school building demonstrated that
they no longer use the second
floor mezzanine area for any
services. The speech therapist
has an assigned room for pull out
services and does provide
services within the general
education classrooms.
The occupational therapy services
are provided in a small room with
sufficient space for a small group
and within the general education
classrooms.
Holyoke Community Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
November 28, 2011
Page 21 of 21
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
Charter School: HOLYOKE COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL
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