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
March 8, 2012
Kathy Egmont, Head of School
Lowell Community Charter Public School
206 Jackson Street
Lowell, MA 01852
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Ms. Egmont:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based
on the onsite visit conducted in your district on January 12, 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 observations.
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 March 23, 2012.
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 781338-3730.
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
Carol Kierstead, Lowell Community Charter Public School Board Chair
Jennifer Holbrook, Special Education Administrator, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Lowell Community Charter Public School
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: January 12, 2012
Date of this Report: March 8, 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 at age
of majority
and student
participation
and consent
at 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
Lowell Community Charter
Public School (LCCPS) is a
grade K -6 charter school and
therefore, this criterion is not
applicable.
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 1 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
A review of student records and
interviews with staff members
showed that the charter school
maintains procedures consistent
with the requirements for Team
attendance at each IEP meeting.
Team chairs implement the
excusal process that includes
parental agreement and a written
report from the absent required
Team member.
Student records also showed
that at all IEP team meetings,
including annual review
meetings, a representative of the
charter school is present who
has the authority to commit
resources.
SE 18 A
IEP
development
and content

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Interviews with staff members
and a review of student records
showed that the Team develops
IEPs that address the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 2 of 13
(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 respond to bullying,
harassment, or teasing whenever
the IEP Team evaluation
indicates that a student’s
disability affects social skills
development, or when the
student’s disability makes
him/her vulnerable to bullying,
harassment, or teasing.
Document review, staff
interviews and review of student
records also showed that the IEP
Team considers and specifically
addresses the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid
and respond to bullying for
students identified with a
disability on the autism
spectrum.
SE 25
Parental
consent
Student
Records

Staff
A review of student records
demonstrated that the charter
school obtains written parental
consent before conducting an
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 3 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Interviews
Document
Review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
initial evaluation, before
conducting a re-evaluation, and
before initiating extended
evaluation services.
The charter school obtains
consent to the services proposed
on a student’s IEP before
providing such services.
Interviews with staff members
and a review of documentation
also demonstrated that the
charter school has procedures in
place to address when a parent
revokes consent to special
education services in writing.
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 4 of 13
(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 for
students
referred for
evaluation
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
A review of student
records, interviews
with staff members
and documentation
review demonstrated
that the charter school
appropriately selects,
provides and
administers tests and
other evaluation
materials in the
language and form
most likely to yield
accurate information
on what the student
knows and can do
academically,
developmentally, and
functionally.
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 5 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 4
Reports of
assessment
results
SE 9
Timeline for
determination
of eligibility
and provision
of
documentation
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
A review of student
records and
interviews with staff
members indicated
that assessment
results summarized in
writing the
procedures they
employed, the results,
the diagnostic
impressions and
defined in detail and
in educationally
relevant and common
terms, the student’s
needs and offered
explicit means of
meeting them.
A review of student
records and
interviews with staff
members
demonstrated that the
charter school has
established an
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 6 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
to parent
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
oversight and
tracking system,
consistently meeting
the 45 school
working days
timeline after receipt
of the parent’s written
consent to an initial
evaluation or reevaluation and
makes its
determination of
eligibility and
provision of
documentation to the
parent.

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
A review of student
records and
interviews with staff
members indicated
that parents of special
education students at
the charter school
receive progress
reports toward
reaching IEP goals as
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 7 of 13
(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
often as parents of
non-disabled students
as the result of its
established
administrative
oversight and
tracking system.
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Interviews with staff
members and review
of student records
indicated that, at least
annually, on or before
the anniversary date
of the IEP, a Team
meeting is held to
consider the student’s
progress and to
review, revise, or
develop a new IEP or
refer the student for a
re-evaluation, as
appropriate.
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 8 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 20
Least
restrictive
program
selected
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
SE 22
IEP
implementation

Student
Records
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
A review of student
records, staff
interviews and
documentation
review demonstrated
that when a student is
removed from the
general education
classroom at any
time, the Team at
LCCPS states in the
IEP why the removal
is critical to the
student’s program
and the basis for its
conclusion that
education of the
student in a less
restrictive
environment could
not be achieved
satisfactorily.
A review of student
records, interviews
with staff members
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 9 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

and availability
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
and documentation
review indicated that
mutually agreed upon
Occupational
Therapy services are
being provided at
LCCPS without
delay.
A review of student
records showed that
at the beginning of
the school year, the
charter school has
IEPs in effect for
each eligible student
within its jurisdiction.
SE 24
Notice to
parent
regarding
proposal or
refusal to
initiate or
change the
Student
Records

Staff
Interviews
Interviews with staff
members and review
of student records
indicated that when a
student is referred for
an evaluation to
determine eligibility,
the charter school
consistently sends
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 10 of 13
(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
identification,
evaluation, or
educational
placement of
the student or
the provision of
FAPE
written notice to the
student’s parent(s)
within five school
days of receipt of the
referral, along with
the district’s notice of
procedural
safeguards. The
written notice meets
all the content
requirements set forth
in M.G.L.c.71B, sec.
3 and in federal law.
SE 27
Content of
Team meeting
notice to
parents
Review of student
records and staff
interviews
demonstrated that the
parent notice of any
Team meeting states
the purpose, time, and
location of the
meeting as well as
who will be in
attendance.

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 11 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 32
Parent advisory
council for
special
education
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
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
A review of
documentation and
interviews with staff
members indicated
that
although LCCPS has
established a school
wide Parent Advisory
Board, which is open
to all parents and
other interested
parties and meets
regularly with school
officials to participate
in planning,
development and
evaluation, the
charter school has not
established a special
education parent
advisory council
(SEPAC).
LCCPS must establish and
maintain a parent advisory council
for special education (SEPAC)
with established by-laws regarding
officers and operational
procedures. The SEPACs duties
should include but are not limited
to: advising the charter school on
matters that pertain to the
education and safety of students
with disabilities; meeting regularly
with school officials to participate
in the planning, development, and
evaluation of the school’s special
education program.
Please see
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/pac/
advisory.html for additional
guidance.
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 12 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Provide a
narrative
description and
supporting
documentation of
the charter schools
efforts to establish
a LCCPS SEPAC.
Documentation of
these efforts may
include but not be
limited to parent
surveys, meeting
flyers and
electronic
outreach such as
web site
postings/email.
Please be sure to
also include a
copy of the
SEPAC by-laws,
evidence of
LCCPS SEPAC
meetings and the
names 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
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
elected officers.
Please submit by
June 29, 2012.
SE 48
Equal
opportunity to
participate in
educational,
non-academic,
extracurricular
and ancillary
programs, as
well as
participation in
regular
education

Document
Review
Staff
Interviews
Observations
Observations, staff
interviews and
documentation
review showed that
Adaptive Physical
Education is
discussed at IEP
meetings. The
charter school has
two locations
designated where
such services would
be provided.
There is currently no
student enrolled
requiring adaptive
physical education.
Lowell Community Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 13 of 13
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
Lowell Community Charter Public 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