75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096 Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
March 11, 2010
Robert Pellicone, Superintendent
Nantucket Public Schools
10 Surfside Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Pellicone:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the
Mid-cycle Review conducted in your district in February 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 of the criteria monitored in your district to be “Partially 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
March 29, 2010.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please contact Lynn Summerill at 781-338-3761.
Sincerely,
Lynn A. Summerill, 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
Vani Rastogi-Kelly, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Dr. Timothy Lepore, School Committee Chairperson
Nina Locario, Director of Special Services, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
1

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Criterion
SE 3
Special requirements for the determination of specific learning disability
Criterion
Implemented

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
PI
Nantucket Public School District
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: February 16, 2010
Date of this Report: March 11, 2010
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student Records
Interviews
The district does not consistently require Team members to provide a written determination as to whether or not the student has a specific learning disability (SLD). In addition, SLD forms are not always completed and the information included in the forms is often contradictory.
If Partially Implemented or Not
(a)
Implemented:
Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Train staff on the special requirements for determination of
SLD. Include in the training the written determination as to whether or not the student has an SLD, which is signed by all Team members, or if there is a disagreement as to the determination, one or more Team members document their
(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 eligibility determination of
Nantucket Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 11, 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
(a)
Implemented:
Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation disagreement. Also include the
SLD eligibility process forms.
Develop an internal oversight and tracking system to ensure that
Teams appropriately complete the written determination and eligibility process forms.
Develop a report of the internal review of student records regarding the special requirements for determination of an SLD.
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements an SLD. Also submit the description of the internal oversight and tracking system. Submit this information by August 31,
2010 .
Submit a report of the results of the internal review of records of students suspected of having a SLD and who have been evaluated since the training.
Include the following:

Number of records
 reviewed;
Number of records that included appropriate documentation for the
Nantucket Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 11, 2010

SE 52A
Registration of educational interpreters
Criterion Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion

Documentation All providers of interpreting services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing are registered with the
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements determination of a SLD;

Description of the root causes for any noncompliance found; and

Specific actions taken by the district to remedy any noncompliance.
Submit this report by December 13,
2010 .
Nantucket Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 11, 2010

Criterion
SE 6
Determination of transition services
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 The Team discusses the student’s transition needs annually, beginning no later than when the student is 14 years of age, and appropriately documents this information on the Transition
Planning Form. Vision
Student Records statements are generated from the students and are used as a foundation for transition goals and services. Transition plans include post-secondary training, employment and independent living.
The district meets the required 45 school working day timeline for eligibility determination and provision of documentation to the parent.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
SE 12
Frequency of reevaluation

Student Records The district conducts reevaluations every three years as required.
Nantucket Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 11, 2010
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion
SE 14
Review and revision of
IEPs
SE 18A
IEP development and content
SE 18B
Determination of placement; provision of
IEP to parent
SE 25
Parental consent
SE 32
Parent advisory council for special education
SE 37
Procedures for approved and unapproved out-ofdistrict placements
SE 51
Appropriate special education teacher licensure
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)







Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about Criterion
Student Records
Student Records IEPs are individualized and contain all of the required elements.
The district provides the Student Records
Interview
Documentation parent(s) with the proposed
IEP and placement immediately following its development.
Student Records
Documentation
Annual Team meetings are consistently held before the anniversary date of the implementation of the IEP.
The district conducts all evaluations upon receipt of parental consent.
The district’s parent advisory council participates in the planning, development, and evaluation of the special education programs.
Student Records
Documentation
Contracts are signed by both the district and the out-ofdistrict placement. The district documents monitoring activities in the student files.
Documentation All special education staff are appropriately licensed.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Nantucket Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 11, 2010
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements

Criterion
SE 54
Professional
Development
SE 55
Facilities
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Interview
Documentation

Observation
Basis of Determination about Criterion
The district provides extensive professional development; staff have been trained on special education requirements and accommodating diverse learning styles of all students.
The special education spaces at the elementary level are appropriate, and staff have visual access to students in the time-out room.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Nantucket Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 11, 2010

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Nantucket Public 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