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 30, 2012
Joseph Sawyer, Superintendent of Schools
Shrewsbury Public Schools
100 Maple Avenue
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 01545
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Sawyer:
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 April 17, 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 Nathan
Lemmon at 781-338-3720.
Sincerely,
Nathan Lemmon, 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
Elizabeth Ahern, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
John R. Samia, School Committee Chairperson
Melissa Mcquire, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Shrewsbury Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: January 30-31, 2012
Date of this Report: March 30, 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
Criterion
Implemented


SE 7
Transfer of
parental
rights and
student
participation
and consent
at age of
majority
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Document
Review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
A review of student records and
interviews with staff members
demonstrated that the district
provides notice and options for
the transfer of parental rights to
the student and the parent at the
Team meeting one year prior to
the student reaching 18 years of
age.
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 1 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews

Student
Records
Staff
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Interviews with staff members and
a review of student records
indicated that the district maintains
procedures consistent with the
requirements for Team attendance
at each IEP meeting. Team chairs
have received training and are
implementing the excusal process
that includes parental agreement
and a written report from the absent
required Team member. It was
also demonstrated that the IEP
Team membership consistently
included a representative of the
school district who has the
authority to commit the resources
of the district.
A review of student records and
interviews with staff members
showed that IEP Teams consider
and address the skills and
proficiencies needed to avoid and
respond to bullying, harassment, or
teasing for students identified with
a disability that affects social skills
development or when the student’s
disability makes him or her
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 2 of 8
(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
vulnerable to bullying, harassment,
or teasing, as well as for students
identified with a disability on the
autism spectrum.
Information regarding bullying,
teasing, or harassment is
documented in the Notice of
Proposed School District Action
(N1), the IEP and/or through a
student safety plan.
SE 25
Parental
consent

Staff
Interviews
Document
Review
Interviews with staff members and
a review of district documentation
demonstrated that the district has
procedures in place to address
when a parent revokes consent to
special education services in
writing.
Additionally, interviews also
indicated that all staff members
responsible for IEP implementation
are consistently informed when
IEPs have been accepted in whole
or in part; in order to ensure proper
timing of the provision of agreedupon services in the IEP.
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 3 of 8
(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 2
Required and
optional
assessments
SE 3
Special
requirements
determination
of learning
disability
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion Partially
Implemented (PI)
or Not
Implemented (NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Staff
Interviews

Student
Records
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Interviews with staff
members and a review of
student records demonstrated
that required educational
assessments, which consist
of an educational history and
a teacher assessment that
includes a history of the
student’s educational
progress in the general
curriculum, are consistently
completed.
A review of student records
showed that the district
creates a written
determination as to whether
or not a student has a specific
learning disability, which is
signed by all members of the
IEP Team, or if there is a
disagreement as to the
determination, one or more
Team members document
their disagreement. The
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 4 of 8
(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
Teams also consistently
complete the specific
learning disability-eligibility
forms, which include a
historical review and
educational assessment, areas
of concern and evaluation
methods, exclusionary
factors and an age
appropriate observation.
SE 29
Communication
in the primary
language of the
home

Staff
Interviews
Student
Records
Interviews with staff
members and a review of
student records demonstrated
that the district consistently
provided translated
communication to parents in
the primary language of the
home, when the primary
language was a language
other than English. Staff
members indicated that there
was a clear process for both
parents and teachers acting
on the behalf of parents to
request translation of special
education documents or oral
interpretation services for
families whose primary
language is other than
English.
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 5 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 43
Behavioral
Interventions
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion Partially
Implemented (PI)
or Not
Implemented (NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Staff
Interviews

Student
Records
SE 55
Facilities
PI
Observations
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
A review of student records
and interviews with staff
members showed that IEP
Teams are consistently
addressing students’
behavior, including positive
behavioral interventions and
the possible need for a
functional behavioral
assessment for all students
whose behavior impedes
their learning.
On-site observations
indicated that only a portion
of the issues cited in the
August 2009 Coordinated
Program Review report have
been corrected. Specifically,
observations noted the
following:
Spring Street Elementary
School – Observations
showed that the substantially
separate classrooms have
been moved and the new
locations now maximize the
inclusion in the life of the
school and the Learning
Resource Room is no longer
The district needs to
immediately assess the
allocation of space for
occupational and physical
therapy services in the
Spring Street Elementary
School and Floral
Elementary School.
In each location cited, the
district must develop a
plan to provide
accessibility for those
students who need to
access occupational and
physical therapy services
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 6 of 8
The district will
develop a detailed
plan to relocate
occupational and
physical therapy
services at the
Spring Street
Elementary
School and the
Floral Elementary
School. Please
provide a copy of
the plan for each
school and
indicate by
name/role the
person
responsible for
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
used by students and services
have been relocated to other
spaces throughout the
building. However, it was
observed that occupational
therapy and physical therapy
are still conducted on the
stage of the auditorium.
in a room that provides
appropriate heating,
lighting and ventilation
and be of appropriate size
so as to be able to
accommodate the group’s
instructional needs.
Floral Elementary SchoolThe district has addressed the
issue with the third grade
resource room located in
back of the media center by
changing location and
scheduling and the Math
Resource class schedule has
been restructured to allow for
smaller groups using the
space at one time. It was
noted that occupational
therapy and physical therapy
are still conducted under the
stairwell and in the hall.
Oak Middle School – The
life skills class has been
relocated to be near other
classrooms and maximize
inclusion into the life of
school.
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 7 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
implementation of
these plans as
well as a timeline
for completion to
the Department
by June 30, 2012.
The district will
provide
confirmation
regarding a
scheduled onsite
visit by the DESE
to review the
relocation of
occupational and
physical therapy
services at the
Spring Street
Elementary
School and the
Floral Elementary
School. Please
provide this to the
Department by
August 31, 2012.
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
Sherwood Middle School –
Observations showed that
speech and language therapy
is now located in a room
specifically assigned for that
use in the new middle school
building.
Shrewsbury High School –
Observations demonstrated
that occupational therapy and
physical therapy has been
assigned to an appropriate
space within the facility and
is no longer conducted in a
storage room that is crowded
with stored equipment.
Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
March 30, 2012
Page 8 of 8
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Shrewsbury 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