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
July 28, 2011
Kathleen M. Willis, Superintendent
North Reading Public Schools
Sherman Road
North Reading, MA 01864
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Willis:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in February 7, 2011. During the 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:
interviews, review of student records, examination of documentation, and classroom
observation(s).
The Department determined that one or more of the criteria monitored in your district
was “Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where
noncompliance was 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 August 15, 2011.
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 Jane
Ewing at 781-338-3741.
Sincerely,
Jane L. Ewing, 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
Dean Paolillo, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Gerald Venezia, North Reading Public Schools School Committee Chairperson
Patricia Bullard, Local Program Review Coordinator, North Reading Public
Schools
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
NORTH READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: February 7, 2011
Date of this Report: July 28, 2011
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 7
Transfer of
parental
rights at age
of majority
and student
participation
and consent
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
Review
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Record review and interviews
demonstrated that one year prior to
the student reaching age 18, the
district informs the student and the
parent/guardian of the rights that
will transfer from the
parent/guardian to the student upon
the student's 18th birthday.
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 1 of 10
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
at the age of
majority
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The district documents the
student’s choice and includes the
documentation in the student
record.

Interview
Although there are not currently
students or families requiring an
educational interpreter, the district
provided its assurance that the
district would only contract
interpreters registered with the
Massachusetts Commission for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 2 of 10
(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
SE 3
Special
requirements for
determination of
specific learning
disability
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
Review
Interview
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
According to record
review and interviews,
when a student is
suspected of having a
specific learning
disability, IEP Teams
include a written
determination as to
whether the student has
a specific learning
disability, which is
signed by all members
of the IEP Team. All of
the required
documentation for this
criterion was
consistently completed
and in student files.
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 3 of 10
(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 4
Reporting
assessment
results

Student
Record
Review
Assessment reports
consistently contained
educationally relevant
findings and appropriate
recommendations for
meeting the student’s
educational needs.
SE 6
Determination of
transition
services

Student
Record
Review
Record review
demonstrated that for
students aged 14+; IEP
Teams consistently
develop transition plans
and annually review
them.
Interview
SE 8
IEP Team
composition and
attendance

Student
Record
Review
The process for excusing
required Team members
is well documented in
the student records.
SE 9A
Elements of
eligibility
determination

Student
Record
Review
According to the student
record review and
interviews, the district
develops 504 plans for
students when
appropriate.
Interview
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 4 of 10
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 13
Progress reports
and content
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation

Student
Record
Review
Interview
SE 18B
Determination of
placement;
provision of IEP
to parent

Student
Record
Review
Interview
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
The record review
demonstrated that
progress reports are
issued for students with
disabilities at the same
time as grade reports.
According to the Pupil
Personnel Director, the
practice of waiting for
an annual review to
provide progress
reporting has been
discontinued.
The record review
demonstrated that IEP
summaries are provided
to parents at the
conclusion of IEP Team
meetings. Additionally,
records showed that the
district consistently
provides families with
copies of the proposed
IEP and proposed
placement along with the
required notice within
three (3) to five (5) days.
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 5 of 10
(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
According to the Pupil
Personnel Director, IEP
Teams at the high school
are always chaired by
individuals who are
knowledgeable about the
programming and
placement options
available for high school
students with
disabilities.
SE 20
Least restrictive
environment

Student
Record
Review
According to record
review, the district’s IEP
Team appropriately and
consistently documents
why a student’s removal
is considered critical to
the student´s program
and the basis for its
conclusion that
education of the student
in a less restrictive
environment in student
IEPs.
SE 21
School day and

Student
Record
According to record
review, the IEPs of
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 6 of 10
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
school year
requirements
SE 37
Procedures for
approved and
unapproved outof-district
placements
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Review
students in residential
placement specify the
reasons for the
determination and how
services will be
coordinated with the day
education services
provided to students.
Student
Record
Review
Although the district
creates monitoring plans
for out-of-district
placements, the plans are
not kept in student files.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Develop a process and internal
oversight system to ensure that
monitoring plans for out-of-district
placements are placed in the student
record.
Please provide training to relevant
special education staff on the
procedures and oversight system.
Please conduct internal monitoring
of student records to ensure
monitoring plans are kept in the
student record. Please ensure that
the records selected are chosen
from a sample completed after all
of the district’s corrective actions
have been implemented.
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 7 of 10
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Provide a
description of the
internal tracking
system and
timelines;
indicate the
person(s)
responsible by
October 30,
2011.
Provide evidence
of training for
relevant staff on
the requirement
to include
monitoring plans
for out-of-district
placements in
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
*Please note that 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 record review; b) Date of
the review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review, their
roles(s), and their signature(s).
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
student files.
Include agenda
and sign-in sheets
as evidence that
training has been
conducted by
October 30,
2011.
Please submit a
report of the
results of the
internal
monitoring
conducted. Please
include the
following:
1) The number of
records reviewed
2) The number of
records in
compliance
3) For all records
not in compliance
with this
criterion,
determine the
root cause of
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 8 of 10
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
noncompliance
and identify the
district plan to
remedy the
noncompliance.
Please submit
these results by
December 16,
2011.
SE 40
Instructional
grouping

Document
Review
Interview
District documentation
for NRPS High School’s
special education
programming
demonstrated that none
of its classes or
instructional groupings
exceeds regulatory
requirements.
The director works with
the high school principal
to ensure that
instructional and age
span groupings at the
high school meet
regulatory requirements.
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 9 of 10
Criterion
SE 53
Use of
paraprofessionals
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Document
Review
According to district
documentation covering
both 2009/2010 and
2010/2011,
paraprofessionals
receive appropriate
training in
accommodating diverse
learning styles of all
students for student
inclusion in the regular
classroom; collaborating
with other staff
members; and
appropriate handling of
student records.
Interview
SE 54
Professional
development

Document
Review
Interview
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
The district’s
documentation
demonstrated that
special education staff
members receive
sufficient training on
analyzing and
accommodating diverse
learning styles of all
students for inclusion in
the general education
classroom and methods
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 10 of 10
(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
of collaboration with
teachers,
paraprofessionals and
teacher assistants.
North Reading Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 28, 2011
Page 11 of 10
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
NORTH READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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