The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Education
350 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-5023
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
July 14, 2005
Maureen M Marshall, Superintendent
Quabbin Regional School District
872 South Street, PO Box 667
Barre, MA 01005
Re:
Onsite Follow-up Monitoring Report: Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action
Plan Verification and Special Education Mid-cycle Review
Dear Superintendent Marshall:
Enclosed is the Department's Coordinated Program Review Follow-up Monitoring Report
together with findings regarding your district’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Review.
This report contains the Department's findings based on the onsite activities conducted in your
school district to verify the implementation status and effectiveness of corrective steps taken in
response to your Coordinated Program Review Report issued on May 2, 2002.
While the Department of Education found certain noncompliance issues to be resolved, others
were partially corrected, not addressed at all and/or the Department’s onsite team identified new
issues.
As the Department previously informed you, in cases where a district fails to fully and
effectively implement a Corrective Action Plan, which was proposed by your district and
approved by the Department, the Department must then prepare a Corrective Action Plan for the
district, which must be implemented without further delay. You will find these requirements for
corrective action and further progress reporting included in the attached report together with any
steps that must be taken by the district to fully implement new special education requirements.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that the Department's requirements
for corrective action will be implemented by your school district within the timelines specified.
Your statement of assurance must be submitted to the Department's Onsite Chairperson by July
25, 2005.
Your staff's cooperation throughout these Follow-up Monitoring activities is appreciated.
Should you require additional clarification of information included in our report, please do not
hesitate to contact the Onsite Team Chairperson at 781-338-3760.
Sincerely,
Robin Haunton, Coordinated Program Review Follow-up Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
John D. Stager, Administrator
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education
Edward Leonard, School Committee Chairperson
Dr. Cherie Majoy, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinator
Encl.: Follow-up Monitoring Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
Quabbin Regional School District
ONSITE VERIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
AND/OR IDENTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REQUIRING CORRECTIVE ACTION
Action Plan Submitted on 6/19/02
Progress Reports Submitted on 12/3/02
Onsite Visit Conducted on April 13 and 14, 2005
Date of this Report July 14, 2005
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Special
Education
Requirements
SE 3
Special
requirements
for
determination
of specific
learning
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification

Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Review of records
indicated that the required
documentation for
determining a student’s
specific leaning disability
was not consistently
completed, for student’s
Submit to the Department, by
January 9, 2006, an agenda
from a high school staff
training that includes a review
of the required documentation
that must be completed when
determining that a student has

Student
Records

Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
disabilities
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting

attending the high school,
with all the necessary
information. In some
cases forms were
incomplete or were
missing the necessary
classroom observations.
2
a specific learning disability.
Submit to the Department, by
January 9, 2006, the written
documentation from ten
student records for students
found eligible due to the
presence of a specific learning
disability.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 6
Determination
of transition
services
(Emphasis on
practices in
determining
needed
transition
planning and
services and
consideration of
courses of study
related to
needed
transition)
SE 8
Evaluation
Team
Composition
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Review of records
indicated that student
IEP’s did not consistently
address transition goals
and benchmarks.
Additionally, Age of
Majority documentation
was not consistently
evident in student records.
Submit to the Department by
January 9, 2006 6 high school
IEP’s that specifically address
student transition goals.
Additionally, submit age of
majority discussion
documentation for six students.
Interviews indicated that
Team Chairpersons do not
have the ability to commit
district resources.
Additionally, record
review indicates that
regular education teachers
are not consistently
present at Team meetings
Submit to the Department, by
January 9, 2006, the list of
persons in the district who
have the authority to commit
district resources and the
ability to attend all Team
meetings. Additionally, submit
by January 9, 2006, 8
attendance sheets from the

Student
Records and
interviews

Student
records and
interviews

3
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting

held at the Middle and
High School.
4
middle school and high school,
documenting the attendance of
regular education teachers at
IEP Team meetings.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content
SE 15
Outreach by the
School District
(Child Find)
SE 17
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting


Record review
and interviews

Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Documentatio
n review
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is substantially
implemented.
5
Record review indicated
that progress reports do
not consistently address
whether the student will
achieve their goals by the
end of the IEP period.
Additionally, some
progress reports were
undated and parents were
not informed of student
progress as often as
nondisabled students.
Contributing to the lack of
progress notes is the lack
of sufficient computers at
district schools that are
able to support the
necessary software to
produce the progress
notes in a timely fashion.
The district must provide
training to all related staff on
writing special education
progress reports. Submit a
copy of the training agenda and
attendance list by January 9,
2006. Additionally, submit by
June 5, 2006, copies of 10
progress reports selected from
student records across all grade
levels that have been written
since the start of the 2005-2006
school year.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Initiation of
services at age
three and Early
Intervention
transition
procedures
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Documentatio
n review and
interviews
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.
6
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content
SE 18B
Determination
of placement;
immediate
provision of
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting

Record review
and interviews.

Record review
and interviews

7
Review of records
indicated several issues in
regards to student IEP’s.
IEP goals were not
consistently measurable.
Certain nonparticipation
justification sections were
vague, stating only that
the student was being
removed, but not
explaining why this was
occurring. Lastly,
accommodations that
were reflected in the
MCAS section of a
student’s IEP were not
consistently reflected in
the IEP accommodation
section that addresses
effective student progress.
Record review indicated
that parents are not
consistently provided
student IEP’s immediately
The district must provide
training to all related staff on
writing student IEP goals,
nonparticipation justification
statements and reflecting
accommodations throughout a
student’s IEP. Please submit a
copy of the training agenda and
attendance list by January 9,
2006. Additionally, submit by
June 5, 2006, copies of 10
IEP’s selected from student
records across all grade levels
that have been written since the
start of the 2005-2006 school
year.
Develop an internal data
tracking system that monitors
IEP Team meetings and the
provision of the related IEP to
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
IEP to parent
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
following the Team
meetings. Contributing to
this issue is the lack of
sufficient computers at
district schools that are
able to support the
necessary software to
produce the IEP’s in a
timely fashion.
the parent. Submit by June 5,
2006, a sample of the data for
the 2005-2006 school year.

8
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 20
Least restrictive
program
selected
SE 22
IEP
implementation
and availability
(Emphasis on
provision of
IEP services
without delay;
provision of the
IEP at the
beginning of the
school year;
and, alternative
methods of
service delivery
where there is a
lack of space
and/or
personnel))
SE 26
Parent
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


Record review
and interviews
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.

Record review
and interviews
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.

Record review
and interviews
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
9
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
participation in
meetings
(Emphasis on
district’s
attempts to
ensure parent
participation at
IEP Team
meetings)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

is implemented.
10
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 28
Parent provided
the IEP or
notice of no
eligibility
together with
notification of
procedural
safeguards and
parents' rights
SE 29
Communications are in
English and
primary
language of
home
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
At the time of the review,
the district did not have
any families requiring this
service. It is unclear if the
district would be able to
provide for a family who
may require verbal or
written translation.
Submit to the Department, by
January 9, 2006, with a
written description of resources
available to the district that are
able to provide both written
and verbal translation if
needed. This includes
language translation as well as
Braille and sign language
interpretation.

Record review
and interviews
Review of records
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.

Documentatio
n review and
interviews
11
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 32
Parent advisory
council for
special
education
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting

Documentatio
n review and
interviews
Review of documentation
and interviews indicated
that this criterion is
implemented.
SE 37
Procedures for
approved and
unapproved
out-of-district
placements
Record review
and interviews

Documentation review
and interviews indicated
that the district has
contracts with out-ofdistrict placements, but do
not consistently maintain
monitoring plans.
Submit to the Department, by
January 9, 2005, with 6
monitoring plans and
monitoring reports developed
for out-or district placements
during the 2005-2006 school
year.
SE 43
Behavioral
Interventions
Interviews

Interviews indicated that
there were not sufficient
behavioral supports at the
middle and high school
levels. Currently, staff
Submit by January 9, 2006, a
description of the behavioral
supports available at the
middle and high school.
Include the building
12
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
are only able to provide
crisis intervention and
college information
because of a lack of
resources. The lack of
sufficient support may
contribute to students
being placed out-ofdistrict because the
necessary resources are
not available to provide
for those student’s within
the district with more
challenging behaviors.
curriculum accommodation
plan, identification of all staff
fully trained in physical
restraint, description of the
student or teacher assistance
team for the middle and high
school, name of the trained
staff available to conduct an
FBA and develop a BIP, and
evidence of all of this
information being shared with
all staff in both schools.
Additionally, evaluate the need
for more staff that is trained to
support behaviorally involved
students and submit this
evaluation by January 9,
2006.

13
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 50
Responsibilities
of the School
Principal and
Administrator
of Special
Education
SE 51
Appropriate
Special
Education
Teacher
Certification
SE 54
Professional
development
regarding
special
education
SE 56
Special
education
programs and
services are
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
It is unclear whether W.
A. H. (middle school
special education/resource
room teacher) is
professionally licensed to
teach students with
special needs.
Submit to the Department by
January 9, 2005, with the
documentation that this
individual has either applied
for a waiver or submitted the
necessary documentation to be
licensed.

Documentatio
n review and
interviews
Review of documentation
and interviews indicated
that this criterion is
implemented.

Documentatio
n review

Documentatio
n review and
interviews
Review of documentation
and interviews indicated
that this criterion is
implemented.

Documentatio
n review and
interviews
Review of documentation
and interviews indicated
that this criterion is
implemented.
14
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
evaluated
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Other
Requirements
15
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
MOA 1
Identification of
limitedEnglishProficient
Students
MOA 2
Program
modifications
and support for
limitedEnglishProficient
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Currently, the district has
no limited-EnglishProficient Students. The
district provided a home
language survey in
English, but it is unclear
whether the district would
be able to provide this for
a parent who speaks a
language other than
English. Additionally, the
district has the IPT
(IDEA) instrument used
to identify students, but it
is unclear who in the
district is trained to
administer it to incoming
students.
Currently, the district has
no limited-EnglishProficient Students. It is
unclear if the district
would be able to provide
the necessary program
modifications and support
Submit to the Department, by
January 9, 2006, examples of
home language surveys in
multiple languages.
Additionally, submit a list of
individuals who are qualified
to assess incoming students to
determine their level of English
proficiency.

Documentatio
n review

Documentatio
n review

16
Submit to the Department, by
January 9, 2006, a written
description of how the district
would modify programming
and provide support for
limited-English-Proficient
Students who may enter the
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Students
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
if a student requiring
these services enrolled in
the school.
district in the future. This
description should include how
the district will provide:
1. Assessment-using
MELA-O, MEPA
2. Provision of ContentSheltered English
Immersion Instruction
3. Provision of English
Language InstructionESL
4. Instructional SupportsTitle 1, Tutoring,
Special Education

17
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
MOA 10A
Handbooks and
Codes of
Conduct
MOA 12A
Notification of
school district
staff and
general public
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substan-tially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting

Documentatio
n review
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.

Documentatio
n review
MOA 16
Notice to
students leaving
school

Documentatio
n review
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.
MOA 17A
Use of physical
restraint
MOA 21
Staff training
regarding civil
rights

Documentatio
n review

Documentatio
n review
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.
Review of documentation
indicated that this criterion
is implemented.
18
Documentation review
indicated that the Title IX
Coordinator was not
identified in either the
middle or high school
handbooks.
Submit to the department, by
January 9, 2006, with the
pages in the middle and high
school handbook that identify
the Title IX Coordinator.