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
June 9, 2010
Margaret McDevitt, Executive Director
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School
67 Middle St.
Lowell, MA 01852
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Executive Director McDevitt:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based
on the Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district in March 2010. In this 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.
The Department found one or more of the criteria monitored in your district to be “Partially
Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where noncompliance has been 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 June 25, 2010.
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 Paul J. Aguiar at (781)
338-3781.
Sincerely,
Paul J. Aguiar, 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 Ahern, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Carol Cowan, President, Board of Trustees LMACS
Patricia Harding, Special Education Coordinator
Encs:
Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: March 18 & 19, 2010
Date of this Report: June 9, 2010
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
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
SE 3
Determination
of specific
learning
disability
PI
Method(s)
of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Interviews,
Student
Records
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that when the
district identified a student as
having a specific learning
disability, the IEP Team did not
always create a written
determination as to whether the
student has a specific learning
disability, which was subsequently
signed by all members of the IEP
Team.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Please provide appropriate staff with
training on the implementation of the
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
determination process and forms
consistent with the requirements of
this criterion.
In addition, after the completion of
the staff training, the district must
conduct internal monitoring of a
sample of student records to
determine that the district is
compliant with the requirements of
this criterion.
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 1 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Please submit a
copy of the
agenda and sign-in
sheets for the
training by
September 20,
2010.
Please conduct a
review of student
records for those
students identified
as SLD,
subsequent to the
training, to ensure
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
* 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
review; c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, their role(s),
and signature(s).
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters

Documents,
Interviews
The district provided a statement of
assurance that there are no students
currently enrolled who would
require an interpreter; however,
should such students enroll, the
district will employ an educational
interpreter registered with the
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 2 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
the completion of
the written
certification by the
IEP Team. Please
submit the results
to include the
number of records
reviewed, the
name and role of
the reviewer, the
number of records
found to be
compliant, the
root cause of any
identified
noncompliance
and any additional
steps taken to
address continued
noncompliance.
This progress
report is due
December 20,
2010.
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
Massachusetts Commission for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
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
Criterio
n Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
SE 2
Required and
Optional
Assessments
PI
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
Student
Records,
Interviews
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that not all
required assessments are
completed during re-evaluations;
particularly evaluations for
identifying students as having an
emotional disability.
Please provide appropriate staff with
training on the required assessments
necessary to determine a student’s
disability (ies) as part of a student’s reevaluation.
Please submit a
copy of the agenda,
the name and role
of the presenter and
the sign-in sheets
for the training by
September 20,
2010.
In addition, after the completion of the
staff training, the district must conduct
internal monitoring of a sample of
student records to determine that the
district is compliant with the
requirements of this criterion.
* Please note when conducting
internal monitoring that district
must maintain the following
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 3 of 9
Please submit the
results of an
administrative
review for required
assessments in the
area of suspected
disability (ies) from
a sample of re-
Criterion
Criterio
n 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
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).
evaluations
conducted after the
training.
The results should
include the number
of records
reviewed, the name
and role of the
reviewer, the
number of records
found to be
compliant, the root
cause of any
identified
noncompliance and
any additional steps
taken to address
continued
noncompliance.
This progress report
is due December
20, 2010.
SE 9A
Elements of
Eligibility
Determination

Documents,
Student
Records &
Interviews
Documents, student records, and
staff interviews indicated that upon
admission, students are evaluated if
materials from their previous
school district are not available.
IEP Teams are convened to
develop a new plan.
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 4 of 9
Criterion
Criterio
n Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
Content

SE 14
Review and
Revision of
IEPs
PI
Method(s)
of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records,
Interviews
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that the
district adopted policies and
implemented procedures to assure
progress reports toward meeting
the goals set in the IEP are
completed, sent to parents and kept
within the student records.
Documents,
Student
Records
& Interviews
Student records indicated that the
IEP Team does not always meet
annually on or before the
anniversary date of the IEP.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
The district must develop a tracking
system to ensure key personnel are
responsible for the timely completion
of the review and revision of IEPs.
Please submit a
narrative
description of the
tracking system and
a copy of the
agenda and sign-in
sheets for the staff
training on its use
by September 20,
2010.
The district must conduct internal
monitoring of student records to
determine that the district is compliant
with the requirements of this criterion.
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 review; c) Name of
person(s) who conducted the review,
their role(s), and signature(s).
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 5 of 9
Please submit the
results of an
administrative
review of a
sample of student
records for those
students requiring
annual reviews
post-training.
Indicate the number
of records
Criterion
Criterio
n 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
reviewed, the name
and role of the
reviewer, the
number found to be
compliant, the root
cause of any
continued
noncompliance, and
the additional
actions taken to
address areas of
concern by
December 20,
2010.
SE 18A
IEP
Development
and Content

SE 20
Least restrictive
program
selected

Student
Records,
Interviews
Student records and staff
interviews indicated that the
district adopted policies and
implemented procedures to assure
that the IEPs are developed that
reflect the specialized instruction
provided to the student.
Documents,
Student
Records &
Interviews
Documents, student records and
interviews indicated that the
district adopted policies and
implemented procedures to assure
the IEP Team considers the
individual needs of the student to
ensure the least restrictive
environment.
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 6 of 9
Criterion
Criterio
n Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
SE 22
IEP
Implementation
and Availability
PI
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
Student
Records,
Interviews
Student record reviews and staff
interviews indicated that upon
entry into the charter school,
students with IEPs from other
school districts are not always
provided with either the direct
services, the quantity of those
services or the placement from the
IEP of the previous school district,
especially for those students that
require a substantially separate
placement.
Please conduct an administrative
review of IEPs for students who
entered the charter school in this school
year to ensure program implementation
consistent with the services and
placement specified on the last
consented to IEP. If the school
identifies any IEPs from previous
districts which remained unchanged
upon entry and which the school has
not fully implemented, the district must
notify parents consistent with the state
requirements under 603 CMR
28.06(2)(d)(2).
Please provide
evidence of the
administrative
review of IEPs and
if necessary, copies
of the notification
to parents regarding
the alternative
means of
implementing the
IEPs and any plan
or provision of
compensatory
services to the
identified students.
Please develop an internal monitoring
system to ensure upon entry into the
charter school that students requiring
substantially separate placements are
placed appropriately and receive their
required services.
The district must conduct internal
monitoring of high school level student
records to determine that the district is
compliant with the requirements of this
criterion.
Please note when conducting internal
monitoring that district must
maintain the following
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 7 of 9
Please provide a
narrative
description of the
revised internal
monitoring system
that ensures that
students in
substantially
separate placements
receive all specially
designed
instruction and
related services
according to the
specific
Criterion
SE 29
Communication
-s are in English
and primary
language of
home
Criterio
n Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

SE 32
Parent advisory
council for
special
education

SE 34
Continuum of
Alternative
Services
PI
Method(s)
of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Documents,
Student
Records &
Interviews
Documents, student records, and
interviews indicated that the
charter school has a process in
place to make sure that interpreters
communicating with parents in
languages other than English are
familiar with special education
procedures, programs and services.
Documents,
Interviews
Documents and interviews
indicated that the charter school
has developed its special education
advisory council and all regulatory
requirements regarding the PAC
are now being met.
Documents,
Student
Records &
Interviews
Documents, student records, and
interviews indicate that the school
does not provide a full continuum
of services when students enter the
charter school with IEPs that
require substantially separate
placements. (See SE 22).
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
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).
requirements of the
student’s IEP by
September 20,
2010.
See SE 22.
See SE 22.
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 8 of 9
Criterion
Criterio
n Implemented

Method(s)
of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Documents,
Student
Records &
Interviews
Documents, student records and
interviews indicate that the charter
school provides physical education
to all students.

Documents,
Interviews
Documents and interviews
indicated that licensed special
education teachers are designing
student instruction.

Documents,
Interviews
Documents and interviews indicate
that the district has recently
evaluated their special education
programs and services.
Documents,
Student
Records &
Interviews
Documents, student records and
interviews confirmed that the
charter school promptly obtains
student records from the sending
Local Education Agencies (LEA).
SE 48
Equal
Opportunity to
Participate in
Educational,
Nonacademic,
Extracurricular
and Ancillary
Programs, as
well as
Participation in
Regular
Education
SE 51
Teacher
Certification
SE 56
Special
Education
Programs and
Services are
Evaluated
SE 59
Transfer of
Student
Records


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 9, 2010
Page 9 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Lowell Middlesex Academy 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