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 5, 2010
Michael Buoniconti, Superintendent
Mohawk Trail Regional School District
24 Ashfield Road
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts 01370
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Buoniconti:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the
Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district January 14, 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.
We are pleased to tell you that the Department has found your district to be in compliance with all of the
criteria monitored in your district during the Mid-cycle Review. The findings of the Department are
included in the enclosed report. You and your entire staff are to be congratulated for your success in
implementing the requirements included in these criteria.
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled Coordinated Program Review
(CPR) several months before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate that this CPR will occur sometime
during the 2013 unless the Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
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 Battistoni at 413 858 4591.
Sincerely,
Paul Battistoni, 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
D. Beth Lopez, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Robert Ashback, Mohawk Trail Regional School District Chairperson
Julia White, Hawlemont Regional School District Chairperson
Margaret Rice, Rowe Public School District Chairperson
Patricia Bell, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs:
Mid-cycle Report
1
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Mohawk Trail Regional School District
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: January 14, 2010
Date of this Report: March 5, 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)
Method(s) of
Investigation
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 and
interviews indicated that the
district is appropriately
evaluating students suspected
of having a specific learning
disability. Written
documentation was evident in
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 1 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
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
the student records, including
signed statements of agreement
of all IEP Team members.
SE 52A
Registration
of educational
interpreters

Documentation
review and
interviews
The district does not have any
deaf or hard of hearing students
at this time; however, the
district is aware of the
requirement for registering
providers with the
Massachusetts Commission for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 2 of 8
(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
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
SE 9
Timeline for
determination
of eligibility and
provision of
documentation
to parent

Student
records
Student record review indicated
that the provision of IEPs to
parents within the 45-day
timeline is being met.
SE 10
End of school
year evaluations

Student
records and
documentation
review
Student record review and
documentation review indicated
that end of school year
evaluation timelines are being
met.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content

Student
records and
documentation
review
Student record review indicated
that progress reports are written
in a timely manner and are
issued at the same time as report
cards.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 3 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
SE 18B
Determination
of placement;
provision of
IEP to parent

Student
records and
interviews
Student record review and
interviews indicated that parents
are provided with copies of the
proposed IEP and proposed
placement immediately
following the development of
the IEP.
SE 20

Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that
students who are placed in the
high school’s life skills program
are placed in the least restrictive
environment.

Student
records
Student records indicated that
Team meeting notices contain
the time of the IEP meeting and
who will be attending.
Least restrictive
program
selected
SE 27
Content of
Team meeting
notice to
parents
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 4 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
SE 34
Continuum of
Alternative
Services &
Placements

Documentation
review and
student records
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that the
continuum of services and
alternative placements
throughout the district meet the
needs of all students with
disabilities.
SE 36
IEP
implementation,
accountability
and financial
responsibility

Documentation
review, student
records, and
interviews
Documentation review, student
records, and interviews indicated
that IEPs are being fully
implemented.
SE 39A
Procedures
used to provide
services to
eligible students
enrolled in
private schools
at private
expense whose
parents reside
in the district

Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that the
district has procedures to
provide services to eligible
students enrolled in private
schools at private expense
whose parents reside in the
district.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
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
SE 39B
Procedures
used to provide
services to
eligible students
who are
enrolled at
private expense
in private
schools in the
district and
whose parents
reside out of
state

Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that the
district has procedures to
provide services to eligible
students who are enrolled at
private expense in private
schools in the district and whose
parents reside out of state.
SE 41
Age span
requirements

Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interview indicated that the
district meets all age span
requirements.
SE 48
Equal
opportunity to
participate in
educational,
nonacademic,
extracurricular

Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that all
students have equal
opportunities to participate in
educational, nonacademic,
extracurricular and ancillary
programs, as well as
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 6 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
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
participation in regular
education.
and ancillary
programs, as well
as participation
in regular
education
SE 49
Related
Services

Documentation
review,
interviews, and
student records
Documentation review, student
records, and interviews indicated
that IEPs are being fully
implemented.
SE 52
Appropriate
certifications /
licenses or other
credentials -related service
providers

Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that all
related service providers have
appropriate certifications and/or
licenses.
SE 54
Professional
development

Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that the
district is providing staff with all
required special education
training.
SE 55
Special

Documentation
review,
Documentation review,
interviews, and observations
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 7 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

education
facilities and
classrooms
SE 56
Special
education
programs and
services are
evaluated

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
interviews, and
observations
indicated that the special
education facilities and
classrooms throughout the
district maximize the inclusion
of their students into the life of
the school.
Documentation
review and
interviews
Documentation review and
interviews indicated that there is
a district-wide system for
evaluating special education
programs and services and it has
been effective at identifying and
correcting areas in need of
improvement.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Mohawk Trail Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 8 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements