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
August 16, 2010
Antonio J. Fernandes
Superintendent
Mendon-Upton School District
150 North Avenue
PO Box 5
Mendon, MA 01756
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Fernandes:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district in April 2010. In this Midcycle 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 September1, 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 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
Donna Coakley-McGowan, School Committee Chairperson
Mary Sullivan Kelly, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
MENDON-UPTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: April 27, 2010
Date of this Report: August 16, 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
SE 3
Special
requirements
for the
determination
of specific
learning
disability
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
records
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
The student record review
indicated the district is not
utilizing the mandated Specific
Learning Disability (SLD)
determination forms as required.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and
Timelines for
Implementation
The district must provide
training to all staff members
responsible for chairing
Team Meetings on the
appropriate use of the
mandated SLD
determination forms.
Also, the district must
develop an internal oversight
and tracking system to
ensure that Teams are
appropriately completing the
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 1 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Provide an agenda,
signed attendance
sheets (indicating role
of staff) and training
materials for staff
training on the use of
the mandated SLD
determination forms to
the Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit a detailed
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
mandated SLD eligibility
determination forms.
The district must conduct,
post-training, internal
monitoring of student
records to determine
compliance related to the use
of SLD determination forms.
*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 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).
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 2 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
narrative description
of the internal
oversight and tracking
system that the district
has adopted and
identify the person(s)
responsible to ensure
the use of the
mandated SLD
determination forms to
the Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit the results of a
post-training
administrative review
of student records to
ensure the use of SLD
determination forms.
Indicate the number of
records reviewed at
each level, the number
found to be compliant,
an explanation of the
root cause for any
continuing noncompliance and a
description of
additional corrective
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
actions to be taken by
the district to address
any identified noncompliance. Please
submit this to the
Department on or
before February 7,
2011
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters

Documentation
and staff
interview
The district currently does not
have a need to employ an
interpreter. The district is aware
of the requirement to use an
individual who is registered with
the Massachusetts Commission for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 3 of 14
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 4
Reports of
Assessment
Results
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
PI
Student records
and interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Student record review
indicated that evaluation
summaries written by special
education staff members did
not consistently define in
detail and in educationally
relevant and common terms
the student’s needs and an
explicit means of meeting
them.
The district must provide
special education staff
members who are responsible
for writing evaluation reports
training on writing summaries
that define in detail and in
educationally relevant and
common terms the student’s
needs and an explicit means of
meeting them.
Also, the district must develop
an internal oversight and
tracking system to ensure that
evaluation summaries define in
detail and in educationally
relevant and common terms the
student’s needs and an explicit
means of meeting them.
Further, the district must
conduct, post-training, internal
monitoring of student records
for evidence of compliance
related to the completeness of
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 4 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Provide an agenda,
signed attendance
sheets (indicating role
of staff) and training
materials for staff
training on the
requirements for
reports of assessment
results to the
Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit a detailed
narrative description
of the internal
oversight and tracking
system that the district
has adopted, and
identify the person(s)
responsible to ensure
that evaluation
summaries define in
detail and in
educationally relevant
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
evaluation reports.
*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
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).
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 5 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
and common terms the
student’s needs and an
explicit means of
meeting them to the
Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit the results of
the post-training
administrative review
of evaluation
summaries. Indicate
the number of records
reviewed at each level,
the number found to
be compliant, an
explanation of the root
cause for any
continuing 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 on or
before February 7,
2011.
Criterion
SE 6
Transition
Services
SE 9
Timeline for
Eligibility
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student records
A review of student records
for students age 14 and older
indicated that transition forms
were completed and updated
on an annual basis.
Documentation
and student
records
The district tracking sheets and
the student records indicated
that the timelines for
completion of evaluations are
not consistently met.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
The district must conduct an
analysis and determine the root
cause of the continued noncompliance related to
complying with regulatory
timelines for eligibility
determination. The district then
must plan and implement
actions that will address the
underlying cause of the
continued non-compliance in
this area.
Additionally, the district must
develop and implement an
internal oversight and tracking
system to ensure that
evaluators are meeting the
required timelines for
completion of evaluation
reports.
Further, the district must
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 6 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit a narrative
description that
identifies the root
cause of the continued
non-compliance and
provides a detailed
description of the
corrective action steps
taken. Please be sure
to include the timeline
of the actions taken by
the district, indicate
the staff member(s)
responsible for the
implementation by
name and role and if
applicable, the staff
members who were
involved in the overall
corrective action
process. Please be
sure to include
sufficient, relevant
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
conduct, post-training, internal
monitoring of student records
for compliance with timelines.
*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
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
documentation of the
corrective action steps
taken that effectively
demonstrate the
district’s efforts to
correct the continued
non-compliance.
Please submit this to
the Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit a detailed
narrative description
of the internal
oversight and tracking
system that the district
has adopted and
identify the person(s)
responsible to address
the oversight of
compliance with
evaluation timelines.
Please submit this to
the Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit a narrative
description of the
results of the post-
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 7 of 14
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
corrective action
administrative review
of student records to
ensure evaluation
timeline compliance.
Identify the name and
role of the reviewer,
the number of records
reviewed from each
level, the number of
assessment reports
found to meet the
requirements of this
criterion, the root
cause of any
continuing noncompliance and any
steps taken to correct
concerns identified in
the process to the
Department on or
before February 7,
2011
SE 12
Frequency of Reevaluation
PI
Student records
and interviews
A review of student records
and staff interviews indicated
that the district is not
consistently conducting reevaluations within three years
of the last eligibility
The district must conduct an
analysis and determine the root
cause of the continued noncompliance related to
complying with regulatory
timelines for re-evaluations
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 8 of 14
Submit a narrative
description that
identifies the root
cause of the continued
non-compliance and
provides a detailed
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
determination unless the
parent and district agree that it
is unnecessary to do so.
within three years of last
eligibility determination. The
district then must plan and
implement actions that will
address the underlying cause of
the continued non-compliance
in this area.
Additionally, the district must
develop and implement an
internal oversight and tracking
system to ensure that
evaluators are meeting the
required timelines for ensuring
that re-evaluations are
conducted as required.
Further the district must
conduct, post training, internal
monitoring of student records
for compliance with reevaluation timelines.
*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
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 9 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
description of the
corrective action steps
taken. Please be sure
to include the timeline
of the actions taken by
the district, indicate
the staff member(s)
responsible for the
implementation by
name and role and if
applicable, the staff
members who were
involved in the overall
corrective action
process. Please be
sure to include
sufficient, relevant
documentation of the
corrective action steps
taken that effectively
demonstrate the
district’s efforts to
correct the continued
non-compliance.
Please submit this to
the Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit a detailed
narrative description
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
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
of the internal
oversight and tracking
system that the district
has adopted and
identify the person(s)
responsible to address
the oversight of
compliance with reevaluation
requirements. Please
submit this to the
Department on or
before October 15,
2010.
Submit a narrative
description of the
results of the postcorrective action
administrative review
of student records to
ensure re-evaluation
compliance. Identify
the name and role of
the reviewer, the
number of records
reviewed from each
level, the number of
assessment reports
found to meet the
requirements of this
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 10 of 14
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
criterion, the root
cause of any
continuing noncompliance and any
steps taken to correct
concerns identified in
the process to the
Department on or
before February 7,
2011
SE 15
Outreach and
Child Find

Documentation
The district provided copies of
notifications and a list of
providers, including health
care clinics, churches,
physicians, private schools and
day care providers that receive
child find information
annually. In addition three
advertisements from
newspapers were also
provided.
SE 40
Instructional
Grouping

Documentation
and interviews
The district provided
information that demonstrated
that the instructional groupings
for special education students
met all regulatory
requirements.
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 11 of 14
Criterion
SE 41
Age Span
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
PI
Documentation
and interviews
The age span was exceeded in
two classes at the high school
(Academic support 956-02 and
956-09)
The district must develop
procedures to ensure that
classroom age spans do not
exceed 48 months and in
instances when this issue
exists, a written request for
approval is submitted to the
Department. Additionally, the
district must provide training to
those staff responsible for
ensuring oversight of this
requirement on these
procedures.
Further, the district must
conduct, post training, internal
monitoring of each special
education grouping of students
on IEPs for compliance with
age span requirements.
*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
level for the records
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 12 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Please submit the
district’s procedures
for implementation of
age span requirements
and identify the
person(s) responsible.
Also provide an
agenda, signed
attendance sheets
(indicating role of
staff) and training
materials for training
of appropriate staff on
to the age span
procedures by
October 15, 2010.
Submit the detailed
narrative results of an
administrative review
of special education
groups for compliance
related to age span.
Indicate the number of
groups reviewed at
each level, the number
found to be compliant,
an explanation of the
root cause for any
continued
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
SE 42
Programs for
Young Children

Documentation
and interviews
The district does not have any
children in preschool that are
over five years of age.
SE 49
Related Services

Documentation
and interviews
The district has the capacity to
fulfill the required services for
students who receive
occupational therapy with two
occupational therapists and
two certified occupational
therapy assistants.
Documentation
A review of documentation
indicated that one speech and
language assistant was not
certified by the Division of
SE 52
Appropriate
Certification/
Licensure
PI
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,
their role(s) and signature(s).
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 on or
before February 7,
2011
The district must provide
evidence that the speech and
language assistant is certified
to provide speech and language
Please provide the
certification from the
Division of
Professional Licensure
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 13 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Related Service
Personnel
SE 53
Use of
Paraprofessionals

Documentation
and interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Professional Licensure as
required.
services.
The district provided a list of
paraprofessionals and the
teachers assigned to them.
Paraprofessionals were trained
to use an inclusion strategies
data sheet. The data sheet
indicates strategies,
accommodations as well as
levels and types of prompts
used.
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 16, 2010
Page 14 of 14
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
by October 15, 2010.
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: MENDON-UPTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
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