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
April 27, 2012
Barish Icin, Principal
Pioneer Charter School of Science
51-59 Summer Street
Everett, MA. 01249
Re: Mid-Cycle Report
Dear Principal Icin:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based
on the onsite visit conducted in your district in January 2012. During the 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: 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 May 15, 2012.
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 Paul J. Aguiar at 781338-3781.
Sincerely,
Paul J. Aguiar, 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
Murat Kilic, Charter School Board of Trustees Chairperson
Gina Balzano, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Pioneer Charter School of Science
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: January 10, 2012
Date of this Report: April 27, 2012
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 and
student
participation
and consent
at age of
majority
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
Review
Interviews
Document
Review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The student record review,
interviews and document review
verified that one year before the
student reaches age 18, the district
provides notice to the student and
the parent of the rights that will
transfer from the parent to the
student upon the student’s 18th
birthday.
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 1 of 14
(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
Upon reaching the age of 18, the
district obtains consent from the
student to continue the student’s
special education program in all
instances where the student turned
eighteen and maintained decisionmaking authority.

Student
Record
Review
Interviews
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance
Document
Review
The review of student records,
documents and staff interviews
indicated that members of the IEP
Team attended IEP Team meetings
or the district and the parent
agreed, in writing, that the
attendance of the Team member
was not necessary because the
member´s area of the curriculum or
related services was not being
modified or discussed or the district
and the parent agreed, in writing, to
excuse a required Team member´s
participation.
When a required Team member
was excused, they provided written
input into the development of the
IEP to the parent and the IEP team
prior to the meeting.
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 2 of 14
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
Review
Interviews
Document
Review
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The review of student records,
documents and staff interviews
indicated that whenever the IEP
Team evaluation indicated that a
student's disability affected social
skills development, or when the
student's disability made him or her
vulnerable to bullying, harassment,
or teasing, the IEP addressed the
skills and proficiencies needed to
avoid and respond to bullying,
harassment, or teasing.
Furthermore, for students identified
with a disability on the autism
spectrum, the IEP Team considered
and specifically addressed the skills
and proficiencies needed to avoid
and respond to bullying,
harassment, or teasing.

SE 25
Parental
consent
Student
Records
Interviews
Document
Review
The review of student records,
documents and staff interviews
indicated that when a parent
revoked his/her consent to the
student´s special education
services, the district acted promptly
to provide written notice to the
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 3 of 14
(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
parent/guardian of the district´s
proposal to discontinue services
based on the revocation of consent,
as well as information on how the
parent can obtain a copy of his/her
right to procedural safeguards.
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 4 of 14
(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 1
Assessments are
Appropriately
Selected and
Interpreted for
Students
Referred for
Evaluation
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
PI
Student
Records
The review of student
records, documents and
staff interviews indicated
that not all assessments
with signed, parental
consent were completed
by the charter school;
specifically classroom
observations and
educational assessments
(Educational Status
Assessments A & B)
which contain
information concerning
the student’s school
The district must complete the missing
consented-to assessments for those
individual students identified by the
Department. Upon completion of the
assessments, the district must
reconvene the IEP Teams to review
the results of the assessments and
determine whether the individual
student’s current IEP is appropriate.
Interviews
history and progress in
the general curriculum.
The district must identify the causes of
the noncompliance, i.e. why all the
assessments that are on the consent
form are not always administered.
Upon completion of the analysis,
develop a system of monitoring which
should include supervisory oversight
and periodic reviews to ensure
sustained compliance.
The district must train staff on the
procedures for ensuring the selection
and completion of assessments. State
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 5 of 14
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
For individual
students identified
by the Department
as missing
consented-to
assessments,
provide copies of
the assessment
summaries, the
Meeting Invitation
(N-3) as well as
either the Notice of
Action (N-1) or the
Notice of School
District Refusal to
Act (N-2) as
evidence that the
IEP Teams
reconvened and
reviewed the
assessment results.
The names of these
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
recommended forms for the
Educational Status Assessments A and
B can be found at:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/28mr/.
The charter school should review a
sample of initial evaluations and reevaluations conducted subsequent to
the district’s implementation of all
corrective actions, to ensure all
required and consented-to assessments
were completed by the school.
Please note when conducting
internal monitoring that school
must maintain the following
documentation and make it
available to the Department upon
request: a) List of the student
names and grade level for the
records reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, their role(s),
and signature(s).
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
individual students
will be mailed
separately to the
district to maintain
student
confidentiality.
Please submit a
detailed narrative
description of what
the district
determined was the
cause of
noncompliance with
this criterion and a
description of the
oversight including
the identity of the
person(s)
responsible for the
oversight and the
date of the system’s
implementation.
Please submit
evidence of staff
training on
assessment
procedures (such as
the agenda and
signed attendance
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 6 of 14
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
sheet, including role
of staff).
Submit all of the
above by June 12,
2012.
Submit a report of
the results of the
internal review of
student records.
Include the
following:
 Number of
records
reviewed;
 Number of
records in
compliance;
 For all records
not in
compliance with
this criterion,
provide the
results of a root
cause analysis
of the noncompliance; and
 Specific
corrective
actions taken by
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 7 of 14
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
the district to
remedy any
noncompliance.
Submit the report by
November 19,
2012.
SE 2
PI
Required and
Optional
Assessments
SE 3
Determination
of specific
learning
disability
Student
Records
See SE 1.
See SE 1.
See SE 1.
The review of student
records and staff
interviews indicated that
when the district
identified a student as
having a specific learning
disability (SLD), the IEP
Team did not create a
written determination
certifying that the student
Please develop procedures regarding
the process for the district to make a
written determination whether a
student has a specific learning
disability which is signed by all
members of the IEP Team, or if there
is disagreement concerning the
determination, IEP TEAM members
document their disagreement.
Please submit a
copy of the
procedures
developed by the
district and evidence
of staff training,
including an agenda
and signed
attendance sheets
(indicate role of
Interviews
NI
Student
Record
Review
Interviews
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 8 of 14
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
had a SLD.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Please provide appropriate staff
training on the implementation of the
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
determination process and forms
consistent with the requirements of
this criterion. See Special Education
Memorandum on Specific Learning
Disability - Eligibility Process/Forms
dated December 10, 2007.
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/iep/sld/
for additional guidance and
assistance.
Please develop a system of
supervisory oversight and periodic
reviews of student records to ensure
that IEP Teams complete the required
documentation when the student is
suspected of having a Specific
Learning Disability (SLD).
Please conduct a review of student
records for students who currently
have or may have a specific learning
disability during the determination of
eligibility for initial or re-evaluation
IEP meetings held subsequent to the
district’s implementation of all of the
corrective actions.
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 9 of 14
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
staff).
Please submit a
description of the
oversight including
the identity of the
person(s)
responsible for the
oversight and the
date of the system’s
implementation.
Submit all of the
above by June 12,
2012.
Submit a report of
the results of the
internal review of
student records.
Include the
following:
 Number of
records
reviewed;
 Number of
records in
compliance;
 For all records
not in
compliance with
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 when conducting
internal monitoring that school
must maintain the following
documentation and make it
available to the Department upon
request: a) List of the student
names and grade level for the
records reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review, their role(s),
and signature(s).
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements

this criterion,
provide the
results of a root
cause analysis
of the noncompliance; and
Specific
corrective
actions taken by
the district to
remedy any
noncompliance.
Submit the report by
November 19,
2012.
SE 9
Timeline for
determination of
eligibility and
provision of
documentation
to parent

Student
Record
Review
Interviews
Document
Review
The review of student
records, documents and
staff interviews indicated
that the charter school no
longer uses or has
procedures for a “time
line extension form,”
which essentially asked
parents to allow the
school to go beyond the
30-day timeline for
assessments, the 45-day
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 10 of 14
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
timeline for IEP
meetings, the annual
review date of the IEP,
and the 3-year review
date. The charter school
is meeting the timelines
for completing
evaluations, holding
annual review meetings
and re-evaluations.
SE 12

Frequency of reevaluation
Student
Record
Review
See SE 9.
Interviews
Document
Review
SE 14
Review and
Revision of
IEPs

Student
Record
Review
See SE 9.
Interviews
Document
Review
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 11 of 14
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 22
Criterion
Implemented


IEP
Implementation
and Availability
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student
Records
The review of student
records, documents and
staff interviews indicated
that related services were
no longer removed from
incoming students’
consented-to IEPs
without first assessing
students in those areas
and obtaining consent to
new IEPs.
Interviews
Document
Review
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
SE 24
Notice to
Parents
Regarding
Proposal or
Refusal to
Initiate or
Change the
Identification,
Evaluation or
Educational
Placement of the
Child or the
Provision of the
FAPE

Student
Record
Review
Interviews
Document
Review
The review of student
records, documents and
staff interviews indicated
that the charter school
consistently used
federally required written
notices (N2 notices) to
inform parents when the
district refused to conduct
an assessment or make a
finding of no eligibility.
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 12 of 14
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 29
Criterion
Implemented


Communication
is in English and
primary
language of
home
SE 32
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student
Records
The review of student
records, documents and
interviews indicated that
when the primary
language of the parent is
other than English, the
district always provided
written communications
in both English and their
primary language.
Interviews
Documents

Parent advisory
council for
special
education
Student
Records
Interviews
Documents
SE 34
Continuum of
Alternative
Services

Student
Records
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The review of student
records, documents and
staff interviews indicated
that a workshop on the
rights of students and
their parents was held by
the charter school.
See SE 22.
Interviews
Documents
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 13 of 14
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 36
IEP
Implementation,
Accountability
and Financial
Responsibility
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
See SE 22.
Interviews
Documents
Pioneer Charter School of Science Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 27, 2012
Page 14 of 14
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Pioneer Charter School of Science
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