75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096 Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
April 19, 2012
James Jolicoeur, Superintendent
Leominster Public Schools
24 Church Street
Leominster, MA 01453
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Jolicoeur:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the onsite visit conducted in your district on January 23, 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: 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 7, 2012.
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 Paula Twomey at 781-
338-3730.
Sincerely,
Paula Twomey, 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
Dean Mazzarella, School Committee Chairperson, Mayor of Leominster
Edward Pratt, Pupil Personnel and SPED Director, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
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MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Leominster Public Schools
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: January 23, 2012
Date of this Report: April 19, 2012
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
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
SE 7
Transfer of parental rights and student participation and consent at age of majority
PI Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
A review of student records and interviews with staff members indicated that the district does not consistently inform the student and the parent/guardian one year prior that the educational decision
The district must review and update their procedures for informing students and parents one year prior to the age of 18 of the transfer of decision making responsibility to the student at the age of majority. Once updated the district must provide training to appropriate staff members.
See Administrative Advisory SPED 2011-1 on the Age of Majority
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 1 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
The district will submit the updated procedures related to transfer of parental rights and evidence of staff training, which will include a training

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 making rights will transfer from the parent/guardian to the student upon the student’s 18 th birthday.
Further, it was evident that the district routinely obtains consent from the student to continue the student’s special education program, prior to the student’s
18 th birthday. at: www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/11_1.ht
ml .
Develop an internal oversight and tracking system to ensure that the district is informing students and their parent/guardian one year prior to the student reaching age 18 of the rights that will transfer to him or her upon the student’s 18 th birthday. Upon reaching the age of 18, via the internal oversight and tracking system, confirm the obtaining of consent to continue the student’s education program.
Conduct an internal review of student records, for those students who have reached the age of majority subsequent to the district’s implementation of all corrective action, for evidence of compliance with notifying the students and parent/guardian of the transfer of rights one year prior to the student reaching age 18 and the confirmation of the student’s consent at age 18 to continue the student’s special education program.
Please note when conducting internal monitoring that district must maintain the following documentation and make it available to the Department upon request: a) List of the student names and grade level for the records reviewed; b) Date of the
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 2 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements agenda, attendance sheet and copies of the materials presented. Please submit this to the
Department by
June 29, 2012 .
Submit the results of the administrative review of student records. Indicate the number of student 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 to be taken by the district to address any identified noncompliance.

Criterion
SE 8
IEP Team composition and attendance
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation review; c) Name of person(s) who conducted the review, their role(s), and signature(s ).
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Interviews with staff members and a review of student records indicated that a district representative with the authority to commit district resources does attend all Team
Meetings.
However, record review and interviews also demonstrated that when a required Team member is unable to attend an IEP Team meeting, the district does not consistently obtain written agreement from the parent to excuse a required Team member´s participation.
The district must revise their procedures related to IEP team composition. The revised procedures must indicate that to excuse a required Team member, the parent and district must 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 and the excused member provides written input into the development of the IEP to the parent and the IEP Team prior to the meeting. Once developed, the district must train special education team chairpersons on these procedures.
Further, the district must develop an internal oversight and tracking system to ensure that appropriate excusal procedures are followed if a required Team member is unable to attend the IEP Team meeting. The tracking system should include supervisory oversight and periodic reviews to ensure ongoing
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 3 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Please submit this to the Department by December 10,
2012.
The district will submit a copy of the revised procedures and evidence of staff training, which will include 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 to

Criterion Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation Determination about
Criterion
Basis of If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation compliance.
Conduct an internal review of student records in which an IEP Team meeting was held after the implementation of the corrective action to ensure that the district is consistently obtaining written agreement from the parent to excuse the required Team member(s).
Please note when conducting internal monitoring that the district must maintain the following documentation and make it available to the Department upon request: a) List of the student names and grade level for the records reviewed; b) Date of the review; c) Name of person(s) who conducted the review, their role(s), and signature(s ).
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements the Department by June 29, 2012 .
Submit the results of an 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 to be taken by the district to address any identified noncompliance.
Please submit this to the Department by
December 10,
2012.
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 4 of 8

Criterion Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
SE 18A
IEP
Development and content
SE 25
Parental consent


If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Student
Records
Staff
Student record review and interviews with staff members demonstrated that the
IEP Team considers and addresses 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.
Interviews with staff members and a review of student records demonstrated that the district has procedures
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 5 of 8
(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
Interviews in place to address when a parent revokes consent to special education services in writing. No parents have revoked consent for services at this time.
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 6 of 8
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

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 4
Reports of assessment results
SE 6
Determination of transition services
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
Records
Student
Records
Staff
Interview
A review of student records showed that staff members responsible for administering assessments summarize in writing the procedures employed, the results, the diagnostic impressions, and define in detail and in educationally relevant and common terms, the student’s needs, offering explicit means of meeting them.
Interviews with staff members and a review of student records demonstrated that the Team discusses the student’s transition needs annually, beginning no later than when the student is 14 years old, and documents its discussion on the Transition
Planning Form.
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 7 of 8
(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
The Team reviews the
Transition Planning Form annually and updates information on the form and the IEP, as appropriate.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s) and Required
Elements
Leominster Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 19, 2012
Page 8 of 8

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Leominster 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
Rev. 6/30/08