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
May 15, 2013
John Tuffy, Superintendent
Kingston Public Schools
250 Pembroke Street
Kingston, MA 02364
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Tuffy:
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:
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 May 30, 2013.
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 Susan Nichols at 781-338-3722.
Sincerely,
Susan Nichols, 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
Joseph L. Chaves, Kingston School Committee Chairperson
Mary Sullivan Kelley, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs:
Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
1
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Kingston Public Schools
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: March 26, 2013
Date of this Report: May 15, 2013
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
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and
Timelines for Implementation
This criterion is not
applicable as the Kingston
Public Schools serve students
in kindergarten through
grade six only.
Kingston Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 15, 2013
Page 1 of 7
(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
A representative of the
school district who has the
authority to commit
resources and who may act
as the chairperson is present
at IEP Team meetings.
Interview
Document
Review
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and
Timelines for Implementation
Members of the Team attend
IEP Team meetings unless:

SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance

The district and the
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 the
parent agree, in writing,
to excuse a required
Team member’s
participation and the
excused member
provides written input
into the development of
the IEP to the parent and
IEP Team prior to the
meeting.
Kingston Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 15, 2013
Page 2 of 7
(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
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
IEP Teams are not
consistently considering or
addressing 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.
Interview
SE 18A
IEP
Development
and content
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
For those students whose records were
identified by the Department, the district
must reconvene the IEP Teams to
consider and address the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid and
respond to bullying, harassment or
teasing.
Please see Technical Assistance
Advisory SPED 2011-2: Bullying
Prevention and Intervention for
assistance and guidance on meeting this
requirement:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories
/11_2ta.html
For those
student records
identified by the
Department,
submit a copy
of the IEP and
the Special
Education
Team Meeting
Attendance
Sheet (N3A) to
indicate that the
IEP Teams have
reconvened.
Provide the IEP Team chairpersons with
training on the requirements for
addressing bullying prevention and
intervention in the IEP.
Develop an internal oversight and
tracking system to ensure that IEP Teams
consider and address the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid and
respond to bullying, harassment and
teasing. The tracking system should
include supervisory oversight and
periodic reviews to ensure compliance.
Submit
evidence of the
IEP Team
chairperson
training and
include the
agenda,
materials and
signed
attendance
sheet with the
name and role
of staff.
Develop a report of the results of an
Submit a
Kingston Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 15, 2013
Page 3 of 7
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
internal review of records to ensure that
IEP Teams that have convened after all
corrective actions have been
implemented are addressing the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid and
respond to bullying, harassment or
teasing in the IEP.
*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 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).
Kingston Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 15, 2013
Page 4 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
description of
the internal
oversight and
tracking system
with periodic
reviews, along
with the name
and role of the
designated
person by
September 24,
2013.
Submit the
results of the
review of
records and
include the
following:
 The number
of records
reviewed;
 The number
of records
in
compliance;
 For any
records not
in
compliance,
determine
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
the root
cause; and
 The specific
corrective
actions
taken to
remedy the
noncompliance.
Please submit
the above
information by
December 16,
2013.

Student
Records
Interview
SE 25
Parental
consent
Document
Review
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, and
also provides information on
how the parent can obtain a
copy of his/her right to
procedural safeguards.
Notice is provided within a
reasonable time before
discontinuing services.
Kingston Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 15, 2013
Page 5 of 7
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
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.
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 2
Required and
optional
assessments
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
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 district is completing all
required assessments.
Educational assessments are
completed by a
representative of the school
district and include a history
of the student’s educational
progress in the general
curriculum.
Kingston Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 15, 2013
Page 6 of 7
(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 3
Special
requirements
for
determination
of specific
learning
disability

Student
Records
The district is consistently
completing the required
Specific Learning DisabilityEligibility Observation (SLD
4) form when determining
whether or not a student has
a specific learning disability.
SE 14
Review and
revisions of
IEPs

Student
Records
The district is consistently
conducting IEP Team
meetings prior to the
anniversary date of the IEP.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Kingston Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 15, 2013
Page 7 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Kingston 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