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
Portia Selene Bonner, Superintendent
New Bedford Public Schools
455 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740-5194
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Bonner:
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.
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 2012-2013 school year, 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 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
Mayor Scott Lang, School Committee Chairperson
Heather Larken, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services
Kathleen A. Turner, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs:
Mid-cycle Report
1
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
New Bedford Public School District
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: February 12, 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
Staff Interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
A review of the student records
and a staff interview indicated that
the district is appropriately
evaluating students suspected of
having a specific learning
disability. Written documentation
was evident in the records,
including signed statements of
New Bedford Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 1 of 7
(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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
agreement of all IEP Team
members.
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters

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.
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 1
Assessments are
appropriately
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
The district appropriately
selects assessments for
students referred for
New Bedford Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 2 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
selected and
interpreted for
students referred
for evaluation
SE 2
Required and
optional
assessments
SE 5
Participation in
general state and
district-wide
assessment
programs
SE 9
Timeline for
determination of

Student
Records

Student
Records

Student
Records
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
evaluation and assesses in
all areas related to the
suspected disability.
Assessment reports
include recommendations
and relevant testing
information.
The district conducts
required and optional
assessments in all areas of
the suspected disability.
The district consistently
conducts educational
assessments (A and B)
and completes student
observations.
IEPs consistently
designate how each
student will participate in
state and district-wide
assessment programs.
The district meets the
required timelines for
eligibility determination
New Bedford Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 3 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
eligibility and
provision of
documentation to
parent
SE 15
Outreach by the
school district
(Child Find)
SE 17
Initiation of
services at age
three and Early
Intervention
transition
procedures
SE 18A
IEP development
and content
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
and provision of
documentation to the
parent.

Documentation
Interview


Interview
Student
Records
Child find activities are
comprehensive and extend
to middle and high school
level students.
The district processes
requests for evaluation,
both oral and written,
within five days at the
preschool level.
The district revises IEP
goals annually. IEPs
routinely address how the
disability affects the
student’s progress on the
Presents Levels of
Educational Performance
B page of the IEP.
New Bedford Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 4 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 18B
Determination of
placement;
provision of IEP
to parent
SE 19
Extended
evaluation
SE 22
IEP
implementation
and availability
SE 24
Notice to parent
regarding proposal
or refusal to
initiate or change
the identification,
evaluation, or
educational
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion

Student
Records
The district accurately
documents the student’s
placement on the IEP
placement page.

Student
Records
Staff follow appropriate
procedures for conducting
extended evaluations.

Interviews
Documentation
Interviews

Student
Records
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
At the high school level,
all staff members receive
and sign statements of
assurance that they have
read and understand their
responsibilities related to
the implementation of the
IEP.
At the preschool and
elementary levels, the
district processes all
requests for evaluation,
both oral and written,
within five days. At all
levels, written notices to
parents are comprehensive
New Bedford Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 5 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
placement of the
child or the
provision of
FAPE
SE 25
Parental consent
SE 35
Assistive
technology:
specialized
materials and
equipment
SE 36
IEP
implementation,
accountability and
financial
responsibility
SE 40
Instructional
grouping
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
and address all elements.

Student
Records

Student
Records
Interviews
Documentation

Interviews
Documentation

The district obtains
written parental consent
before conducting initial
evaluations and reevaluations.
Assistive technology
needs are discussed at IEP
Team meetings, and
assistive technology
assessments are conducted
if determined appropriate.
High school staff are
informed of their
responsibilities related to
implementation of the
IEPs and are provided
access to their students’
IEPs.
The DeValle Elementary
School is in compliance
with all instructional
New Bedford Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 6 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
requirements for
students aged five
and older
SE 41
Age span
requirements
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
grouping requirements.
Documentation

The high school is in
compliance with all age
span requirements.
New Bedford Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 5, 2010
Page 7 of 7
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements