Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-5023
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
June 19, 2008
Joseph Lisi
Nahant Public Schools
290 Castle Road
Nahant, MA 01908
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Lisi:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report. This
report contains findings based on onsite monitoring the Department conducted to determine the
effectiveness of corrective action it approved or ordered to address noncompliance identified in
your district’s last Coordinated Program Review Report, dated August 26, 2005. The Mid-cycle
Report also contains findings based on onsite monitoring of special education compliance criteria
that have been created or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004.
The onsite team would like to commend the following programs and practices that were brought
to its attention and that the team believes have a significant positive impact on the education of
students enrolled in the Nahant Public Schools. These programs and practices are as follows:
The district is commended for the extensive renovations that were completed to make the
Johnson school completely accessible to students with disabilities.
The district is commended for the practice of including in the student record a signed
receipt of the documents that the parent is given at the conclusion of the Team meeting.
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled CPR several months
before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate that this CPR will occur sometime during the
2011 unless the Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
While the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education found your district to have
resolved certain noncompliance issues, others were partially corrected or not addressed at all, or
the Department’s onsite team identified new issues of noncompliance, including but not limited to
noncompliance with special education criteria added or substantially changed in response to
IDEA 2004. Where the district has failed to implement its Coordinated Program Review
Corrective Action Plan, the Department views these findings to be serious. The Office of Special
Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires
that all special education noncompliance be corrected as soon as possible, but in no case later
than one year from the time of identification; where the district has failed to implement its CPR
Corrective Action Plan, this one-year period has long since passed.
In all instances where noncompliance has been found, the Department has prescribed corrective
action for the district that must be implemented without delay. (In the case of new findings of
1
noncompliance, this corrective action must be corrected 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 progress reporting. Please provide
the Department with your written assurance that all of the Department's requirements for
corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in the report.
You must submit your statement of assurance to me by July 7, 2008.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. Should you like
clarification of any part of our report, please do not hesitate to contact me at 781-338-3714.
Sincerely,
Nancy Hicks, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
James Devereaux, School Committee Chairperson
Ann Haskell and Bonnie Bisbicos, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinators
Encl.: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Nahant Public Schools
Date of Coordinated Program Review (CPR) Final Report: August 26, 2005
Date Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action Approved or Ordered: January 3, 2006
Dates of this Mid-cycle Review Onsite Visit: May 1 and 2, 2008
Date of this Report: June 19, 2008
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.
Special Education Criteria Cited in CPR Report and Monitored in Mid-cycle
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 4
Reports of
assessment
results
Record review

Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
The record review indicates
that assessment summaries
included information
regarding the student’s needs
and explicit means of
meeting them.
See SE 12 on page 6
SE 9
Eligibility
timelines

Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 1 of 16
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Documentation
Documentation indicates that
the district does outreach to
private nursery schools or
daycare facilities in the
community.
Staff interviews and
documentation confirmed
that a formal process is in
place for screening of three
and four-year-olds and for
children entering
kindergarten and is
publicized to Nahant parents.
The district does conduct the
required vision and hearing
tests.
The district keeps a record
that is signed by the parent of
what documents the parent
receives at the conclusion of
the team meeting.

SE 15
Child Find
SE 16
Screening
SE 18B
Placement

Documentation

Record review

Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified


Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
The student record review
indicates that the IEP is
not always issued
immediately after the
Team meeting. In two of
the records examined, the
IEP was not issued until
30days after the Team
meeting.
Prior to the beginning of the
school year the district must
develop a tracking system and
a set of procedures to ensure
the district will meet the
requirements for this criterion.
Provide the description of the
district’s procedures, its’
tracking system and identify
the person(s) responsible by
September 5, 2008.
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 2 of 16
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
By December 15, 2008, the
district must submit the results
of a record review of Team
meetings held since the
beginning of the SY to monitor
compliance with this criterion
including the following:
 The name of the
individual
responsible for
monitoring.
 The number of
records examined
 The rate of
compliance
 A description of
steps taken when
non compliance
was identified.
SE 19
Extended
Evaluation
SE 24
Notice
Documentation

Documentation indicates that
the district has procedures in
place that are consistent with
the requirements for
utilization of the extended
evaluation.
Record review

The record review
indicates that all questions
on page two of the N1 and
N2 forms are not always
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 3 of 16
Prior to the beginning of the
school year the district is
required to review the
requirements for this criterion
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 27
Record review
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
addressed.
with the person(s) responsible
for implementing this
requirement. By September 5,
2008, the district must submit a
statement of assurance signed
by the Superintendent that this
review was completed.
By December 15, 2008, the
district must submit the results
of a record review of written
notices issued since the
beginning of the SY to monitor
for compliance with this
criterion including the
following:
 The name of the
individual
responsible for
monitoring.
 The number of
records examined
 The rate of
compliance
 A description of
steps taken when
non compliance
was identified
.
The record review indicates
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 4 of 16
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

Team Meeting
Notice
SE 32
PAC
SE 42
Programs for
Young
children
SE 55
Accessibility


Documentation
and interviews

Documentation
and interviews

Interviews and
building tour
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
that the Team meeting notice
contained all required
information.
Documentation and
interviews indicate that the
annual workshop on the
rights of students and their
parents is scheduled for May
15, 2008.
Documentation and
interviews indicate that the
district accepts referrals from
other agencies to ensure the
implementation of an IEP by
the child’s third birthday.
The district has completed
extensive renovations to
make the building accessible
to students with disabilities.
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 5 of 16
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Special Education Criteria Created or Revised in Response to IDEA-2004
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Method(s) of
Basis of Determination that
Criterion
Basis of Determination
Required Corrective Action,
Number
Implemented Verification
Criterion was Implemented
Partially
that Criterion was
Timelines for

and
Implemented Partially Implemented
Implementation, and
Topic
or Not
or Not Implemented
Progress Reporting
Implemented

Interviews and
The district is preparing to
SE 3

record review
use the new forms to
Special
document the agreement with
requirements
a finding of a specific
for
learning disability.
determination
of specific
learning
disability
Record review
The records of age
Prior to the beginning of the
SE 6 ##1 - 3

Nahant does not have a
appropriate students in
school year the district is
Determination
middle or high school.
out-of-district placements
required to review the
of Transition
Students at the middle and
did not contain transition
requirements for completion of
Services
high school level attend
planning forms although
the Transitional Planning Form
school in Swampscott. The
one student had transition
found at:
Nahant School District
goals.
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/
provides official oversight;
links/transition.html. with the
however, the Swampscott
person(s) responsible for
School District is responsible
implementing this requirement.
for addressing the special
By September 5, 2008, the
education needs of these
district must submit a
students, including the need
statement of assurance signed
for transition services.
by the Superintendent that this
review was completed.
By December 15, 2008 the
district must conduct internal
monitoring of student records
for students in out-of-district
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 6 of 16
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
placements with Team
meetings since the beginning
of the SY. Please provide the
following as evidence of this
review:
 The name of the
individual
responsible for
monitoring,
 The number of
records examined,
 The rate of
compliance,
 A description of
steps taken when
non compliance
was identified.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance

Record review
and
documentation
The record review indicates
that IEP Teams have the
required members.
Documentation indicates that
the district is aware of the
procedures for the excusal of
a Team member.
SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation

Student record review
indicates that a student
previously serviced under
a 504 plan was transferred
to special education
without the benefit of an
eligibility determination
and that another student
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 7 of 16
By December 15, 2008, the
district must review special
education records and report on
the following:
 The name of the
individual
responsible for
monitoring 504
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
was found no longer
eligible for special
education and was placed
on a 504 plan without a
complete evaluation.
Plans,
The number of
students who have
been served under
both an IEP and a
504 Plan,
 The number of
students whose
eligibility was
changed without a
complete
evaluation.
Also by December 15, 2008,
provide documentation
showing that the district has
proposed a complete
evaluation for any student
identified by the monitoring
activities.
The record review
indicates the following
regarding progress
reports:
 They did not
always
specifically
address progress
on IEP goals and
benchmarks but
rather reported on
Prior to the beginning of the
school year the district must
review with the responsible
staff member the requirements
for issuing progress reports on
the student’s progress toward
reaching the goals set in the
IEP at least as often as parents
are informed of the progress of
non-disabled students. By
September 5, 2008, the district
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 8 of 16

Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented


SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs
SE 25B
Resolution of
Student record
The record review indicated
that the Team meets annually
to review, revise or develop a
new IEP.
Documentation
Documentation indicates that
the district has reached


Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 9 of 16
progress in an
academic class.
They were
sometimes written
by a special
educator without
consultation with
those staff
members who
were responsible
for addressing the
IEP goals.
Student records
did not always
contain progress
reports on every
IEP goal.
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
must submit a statement of
assurance signed by the
Superintendent that this review
was completed.
The district must complete a
record review following the
first marking period and
provide the following by
December 15, 2008 as
evidence of this review:
 The name of the
individual responsible
for the review,
 The number of records
examined,
 The rate of
compliance,
 And a description of
steps taken when
progress reports do not
address IEP goals or
when all progress
reports are not in the
record.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Verification
SE 39A
Procedures for
services to
eligible private
school students
whose parents
reside in the
district
SE 39B
Procedures for
services to
eligible
students in
private schools
in the district
whose parents
reside out of
state
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
legally binding agreements
resolving disputes.
disputes
SE 33
Involvement in
the General
Curriculum
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Interviews and
student records
Interviews indicate that the
district meets the
requirements regarding
students with disabilities’
access to the general
curriculum.
Documentation
and interviews
The district met the
requirements regarding the
provision of services to
eligible students enrolled in
private schools at private
expense.
Documentation
and interviews
There are currently no
private schools in the district.
Procedures are in place
consistent with the
requirements of this
criterion. The district has
completed the calculation of
the proportionate share of
Federal Education Funds.
Documentation
The district has procedures in
place consistent with the
requirements of this



Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 10 of 16
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Verification
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
criterion.
students with
disabilities
more than 10
days
SE 52
Appropriate
certifications/
licenses or
other
credentials –
related service
providers
(to be reviewed
only with
respect to
providers of
interpreting
services)
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Documentation

The district currently has no
students or parents who
require interpreting services.
Procedures are in place
consistent with the
requirements of this
criterion.
Special Education Criteria Monitored because of Issues Identified since the CPR
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Method(s)
Basis of Determination that
Criterion
Basis of Determination
Required Corrective Action,
Number
Implemented
of
Criterion was Implemented
Partially
that Criterion was
Timelines for

and
Verification
Implemented Partially Implemented
Implementation, and
Topic
or Not
or Not Implemented
Progress Reporting
Implemented

Interviews indicate that
Prior to the beginning of the
SE 53

IEPs are not being
school year the district must
Use of
implemented as written
review with the responsible
Paraprofessionals
when special education
staff member the requirements
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 11 of 16
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
paraprofessionals are
responsible for delivering
special education services
without sufficient
consultation with an
educator who is qualified
to design instruction and
provide required
supervision.
for the supervision of
paraprofessionals. By
September 5, 2008 the district
must develop a plan for the
2008-2009 school year and
provide the following as
evidence of the plan:
 A schedule of the
times that each
paraprofessional
will be responsible
for delivering
special education
services,
 The name of the
qualified educator
providing
supervision,
 A schedule for the
supervision that
will be provided for
each
paraprofessional.
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 12 of 16
Special Education Criteria Monitored because of Issues Identified since the CPR
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Method(s)
Basis of Determination that
Criterion
Basis of
Required Corrective Action,
Number
Implemented
of
Criterion was Implemented
Partially
Determination that
Timelines for Implementation,

and
Verification
Implemented Criterion was
and Progress Reporting
Topic
or Not
Partially
Implemented Implemented or Not

Implemented
SE 2
Assessments
Student
records


SE 20
LRE
The required
educational
assessments were not
always completed for
an initial or
reevaluation
Prior to the beginning of the school
year the district must review the
requirements of this criterion with
the person(s) responsible for its
implementation. By September 5,
2008, the district must submit a
statement of assurance signed by
the Superintendent that this review
was completed.
By December 15, 2008, the district
must conduct internal monitoring
of all student records with
educational assessments completed
since the beginning of the SY.
Please provide the following as
evidence of this review:
 The name of the
individual responsible
for monitoring.
 The number of records
examined
 The rate of
compliance,
 A description of steps
taken when non
compliance was
identified.
The nonparticipation
justification was not
always completed
Prior to the beginning of the
school year the district is required
to review the requirements for this
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 13 of 16
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented


SE 22
IEP
Implementation
Basis of
Determination that
Criterion was
Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
when a student
received services
outside of regular
education. The IEP
did not always
contain individualized
statements explaining
why removal from
general education was
critical to the
student’s program.
criterion with the person(s)
responsible for its implementation.
By September 5, 2008, the district
must submit a statement of
assurance signed by the
Superintendent that this review was
completed.
By December 15, 2008, the district
must conduct internal monitoring
of all student records for IEPs
completed since the beginning of
the SY for completed
nonparticipation statements. Please
provide the following as evidence
of this review:
 The name of the
individual responsible
for monitoring.
 The number of records
examined
 The rate of compliance
 A description of steps
taken when non
compliance was
identified.
By September 5, 2008, the district
must submit a plan explaining how
they will ensure that IEP services
are provided with the frequency
and duration specified on each IEP.
By December 15, 2008, the district
must submit a report on the results
of monitoring of the provision of
Student records and
interviews indicate
that several students
have IEP services that
are not being
provided with the
frequency and
duration specified in
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 14 of 16
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of
Determination that
Criterion was
Partially
Implemented or Not
Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
the IEP. For example,
a student’s service
delivery page
indicated that a
service was to be
provided 5 times 30
minutes but the
special education
teacher providing
these services works
only two days a week.
IEP services including:
 The name of the
individual responsible
for monitoring,
 The number of records
examined,
 The rate of
compliance,
 A description of steps
taken when non
compliance was
identified.
The Department will conduct
onsite verification of the
implementation of IEP services at a
date to be determined.
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 15 of 16
Criteria from Other Regulated Programs Monitored During this Mid-cycle Review
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number/Topic
ELE 11
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Corrective Action Not
Implemented or Not
Effective
Or
New Issues Identified

The district has no limited
English proficient students
however; procedures have been
developed to ensure that LEP
students have access to the
curriculum.
Nahant Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 19, 2008
Page 16 of 16
Basis of
Determination
that
Implementation
of Corrective
Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective
Or
Basis of Finding
of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Requirements