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 8, 2012
Kathleen Wang, Charter School Leader
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
317 Russell Street
Hadley, MA 01035
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Ms. Wang:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on
the onsite visit conducted in your district in January of 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 March 23, 2012.
Your staff’s cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have questions
1
about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact me at 413-314-6708.
Sincerely,
Tom Hidalgo, 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
Jean Jonker, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Chung Liu, Chair, Charter School Board of Trustees
Encs:
Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: January 19, 2012
Date of this Report: March 8, 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

Not
Applicable
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
The school is a K-8 charter
school, and no student
reached the age of majority.
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 1 of 9
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 8
IEP Team
composition and
attendance
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
Review
Interview
SE 18A
IEP
Development
and content
PI
Student
Record
Review
Interview
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
Student record review and
interview indicated that
members of the IEP Team
attend meetings unless the
charter school and the
parent agree, in writing, that
the attendance of the
member is not necessary
because the member’s area
of the curriculum or related
services is not being
modified or discussed.
When the charter school and
the parent agree, in writing,
to excuse a required Team
member’s participation, the
excused member provides
written input into the
development of the IEP to
the parent and the IEP Team
prior to the meeting.
Student record review and
interview indicated that for
students with a disability on
the autism spectrum, or
students whose disability
affects social skills
development, or when the
Please see Technical
Assistance Advisory SPED
2011-2: Bullying Prevention
and Intervention
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/
advisories/11_2ta.html.
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 2 of 9
Submit a copy of the
newly developed
procedures and evidence
of staff training
(meeting agenda,
attendance sheet with
name and role, copy of
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
Review
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
student’s disability makes
him or her vulnerable to
bullying, harassment, or
teasing, the IEP Team did
not consider and
specifically address in the
IEP the skills and
proficiencies needed to
avoid and respond to
bullying, harassment, or
teasing.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Develop procedures about the
requirements for the IEP Team
regarding students with a
disability on the autism
spectrum or students whose
disability makes them more
vulnerable to bullying,
harassment, or teasing and
provide training to appropriate
staff.
For those students whose
records were identified by the
Department, reconvene the IEP
Teams to consider and
specifically address in the IEP
the skills and proficiencies that
students on the autism
spectrum and those students
whose disability affects social
skills development, or whose
disability may make them more
vulnerable to bullying,
harassment, or teasing need to
avoid and respond to bullying,
harassment, or teasing.
Conduct an administrative
review of IEP Team meetings
held since implementing
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 3 of 9
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
materials) by May 1,
2012.
For those student
records identified by the
Department, submit a
copy of the Notice of
School District Action
(N1), Meeting Invitation
(N3), and Attendance
Sheet (N 3A) for the IEP
Team meetings and
where appropriate those
specific sections of the
IEP where the
provisions to address
bullying, harassment, or
teasing are addressed by
June 29, 2012.
Submit a report of the
results of the
administrative review of
Team meetings and
include the number of
meetings reviewed; the
number in compliance
with this criterion, the
root cause of any noncompliance and the
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
corrective action for students
on the autism spectrum, and
those students whose disability
affects social skills
development, or whose
disability may make them more
vulnerable to bullying,
harassment, or teasing to verify
that the Team considered and
addressed the skills and
proficiencies they need to
avoid and respond to bullying,
harassment, or teasing.
*Please note when
conducting internal
monitoring the charter
school must maintain the
following documentation and
make it available to the
Department upon request: a)
List of student names and
grade levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
with their role(s) and
signature(s).
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 4 of 9
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
corrective actions the
charter school will take
to remedy any noncompliance, by October
30, 2012.
Criterion
SE 25
Parental consent
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
Student record review and
interview indicated that no
parent has revoked consent
to services. The charter
school reported that if a
parent does give consent for
special education services
and then revokes consent,
the charter school
discontinues all special
education services,
consistent with federal
regulation.
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 5 of 9
(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)
PI
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
Review
Interview
Document
Review
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student record review and
interview indicated that
when a student suspected of
having a specific learning
disability is evaluated, the
Team creates a written
determination as to whether
or not he or she has a SLD,
but all members of the
Team do not consistently
sign it.
Please see Memorandum on
Specific Learning Disability
– Eligibility Process/Forms
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sp
ed/iep/sld/default.html
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(b) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Review with appropriate staff
information explaining the
requirement that when a
student suspected of having a
specific learning disability is
evaluated, the Team creates a
written determination as to
whether or not he or she has a
SLD, which all members must
sign.
Submit evidence that
appropriate staff were
informed of the
requirement. Evidence
should include a copy of
the memo or agenda
with handouts and list of
recipients with name
and role indicated.
Submit by May 1, 2012.
Conduct an administrative
review of SLD forms,
completed since corrective
action was implemented, for
students suspected of having a
specific learning disability to
verify that the Team created a
written determination as to
whether or not the student has
a SLD, and all members
signed.
Submit a report of the
results of the
administrative review of
student records with
completed SLD forms
and include the number
of records; the number
in compliance, the root
cause of any noncompliance and the
corrective actions the
charter school will take
to remedy any noncompliance by October
30, 2012.
*Please note when
conducting internal
monitoring the charter
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 6 of 9
(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:
(b) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
school must maintain the
following documentation and
make it available to the
Department upon request: a)
List of student names and
grade levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
with their role(s) and
signature(s).
SE 18B
Determination
of placement;
provision of IEP
to the parent
PI
Student
Record
Review
Interviews
Student record review and
interviews indicated that the
charter school did not
always provide the parent
with the proposed IEP
within the required
timelines.
Conduct an analysis of a cross
section of IEPs (annuals,
initials, re-evaluations
conducted at all levels) from
the past year to determine why
parents are not routinely being
provided with the proposed
IEP and placement within the
required timelines.
Based on the results of the
analysis, provide the charter
school’s determination of the
root cause(s) of the
noncompliance, along with the
steps the charter school
proposes to take to correct the
root causes and a timeline for
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 7 of 9
Submit a description of
the root causes of the
noncompliance, the
steps the charter school
will take to correct the
root cause(s) and the
proposed timeline for
implementation of
corrective action by
May 1, 2012.
Submit the results of the
internal review of
student records,
including the number of
records reviewed;
number of records in
compliance; for all
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:
(b) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
the implementation of those
corrections.
Select a sample of student
records for IEPs at the
elementary and middle school
levels and across all types of
activity (annuals, initials, reevaluations), conducted after
the completion of the root
cause analysis, and
implementation of all
corrective actions and review
for compliance with timelines.
*Please note that when
monitoring the district must
maintain the following
documentation and make it
available to the Department
upon request: a) List of
student names and grade
levels for the record review;
b) Date of the review; c)
Name of persons who
conducted the review, their
roles and their signatures.
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 8 of 9
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
records not in
compliance with this
criterion, provide the
results of a root cause
analysis of the noncompliance and specific
corrective actions taken
by the charter school to
remedy any noncompliance by October
30, 2012.
Criterion
SE 22
IEP
Implementation
and availability
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
Review
Interview
Document
Review
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(b) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for
Implementation
Student record review,
interview and document
review indicated that special
education services listed on
the service delivery grid of
the IEPs are provided within
the required timelines.
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 8, 2012
Page 9 of 9
(b) Progress Report
Due Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
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