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
March 23, 2005
Peter Dewar, Superintendent
South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District
750 Winter Street
Framingham, MA 01702
Re:
Onsite Follow-up Monitoring Report: Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action
Plan Verification and Special Education Mid-cycle Review
Dear Superintendent Dewar:
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 July 23, 2002.
We are pleased to indicate that the Department of Education has found your district's approved
Corrective Action Plan to be substantially implemented and effective in remedying previously
identified noncompliance issues in the areas of Special Education and Civil Rights. The findings
of the Department are included in the attached Follow-up Monitoring Report. You and your
entire staff are to be congratulated for your efforts in implementing all necessary improvements.
While the Department of Education found certain noncompliance issues to be resolved, others
were partially corrected, not addressed at all and/or new issues were identified by the
Department’s onsite team.
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 April 6, 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 me at 781-338-3722.
Sincerely,
Susan D. Nichols, 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
Robert Leonard, Special Education Director
Encl.: Follow-up Monitoring Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District
ONSITE VERIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
AND/OR IDENTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REQUIRING CORRECTIVE ACTION
Onsite Visit Conducted on February 14 – 16, 2005
Date of this Report March 23, 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
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Documentation
Student
The district implements all of the
requirements in the
determination of a specific
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)
determination
of specific
learning
disabilities
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Records
learning disability.
Staff Interviews
2
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 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 13
Progress
Reports and
content
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


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
The progress reports
do not consistently
include progress
information that is
related to goals,
objectives and
Submit to the Department of
Education by, June 17, 2005,
progress reports from 2
students per grade level.

Documentation
Student
Records
Staff Interviews
partial
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Documentation
Student
Records
Staff Interviews
The district implements all of the
transition services. The district
determines the need for transition
planning and services at
appropriate junctures and
considers the courses of study
related to needed transitions.
The records indicate that the
progress reports are sent to
parents as often as parents are
informed of progress of nondisabled students and include
information on the extent to
3
partial
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 Substantially
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

which such progress is sufficient
to enable the student to achieve
the goals by the end of the year.
4
benchmarks.
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 15
Outreach by the
School District
(Child Find)
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification


Documentation
Staff Interviews

Documents
Student
Records

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Staff Interviews
SE 18B
Determination
of placement;
immediate
provision of
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Documentation
Student
Records
The district conducts outreach
within the school and throughout
the community.
The IEP Teams, upon
determining that the student is
eligible for special education, use
evaluation data to develop the
IEP that contains all required
elements. The IEP generally
includes specifically designed
instruction to meet the individual
needs of students and related
services. The district ensures that
each IEP Team has at least one
person with authority to commit
the resources of the district.
The IEP Team determines the
appropriate placement to deliver
the services on IEPs. Placement
selected by the Team is the least
5
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)
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

IEP to parent
Staff Interviews
restrictive environment
consistent with the needs of the
student. In general, the IEP is
provided to the parent
immediately following its
development and within 45
working days after a parent’s
written consent to evaluations.
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 20
Least restrictive
program
selected
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation



Student
Records
IEP Teams select the least
restrictive environment for
students.
Staff Interviews
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

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Documentation
Student
Records
Staff Interviews
The district has an IEP in effect
for eligible students at the
beginning of each school year
and begins IEP services without
delay once an IEP has been
accepted by the student’s parent
7
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)
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

personnel))
8
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 26
Parent
participation in
meetings
(Emphasis on
district’s
attempts to
ensure parent
participation at
IEP Team
meetings)
SE 28
Parent provided
the IEP or
notice of no
eligibility
together with
notification of
procedural
safeguards and
parents' rights
SE 29
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Student
Records
Staff Interviews
The district makes attempts to
ensure parental participation in
IEP Team meetings and parental
attendance is high

Student
Records
Parents are provided with copies
of the IEP immediately following
the Team meeting.

Student
The district assures that
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)
Communications are in
English and
primary
language of
home
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Records
communication with parents is in
English and the primary language
of the home.
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 32
Parent advisory
council for
special
education
SE 50
Responsibilities
of the School
Principal and
Administrator
of Special
Education
SE 54
Professional
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Student
Records
Documentation
Staff Interviews

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
The district does not
have a current and
updated District
Curriculum
Accommodation Plan
(DCAP)
Submit to the Department of
Education, by June 17, 2005 a
current and updated DCAP, or
multi-year Strategic Plan.

Staff Interviews
partial
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Documentation
The district has a Parent
Advisory Council (PAC),
including PAC by-laws and
officers. The district submitted
PAC meeting agendas, and
information on training sessions
and guest speakers. The PAC
actively advises the district on
matters pertaining to special
education program planning.
The district ensures that all
Administrators fulfill the
responsibilities set forth in state
and federal law and regulations.
The District promotes
instructional practices responsive
to the needs of students and
ensures that adequate
instructional support is available
for students and teachers.
The district offers a significant
11
partial
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
development
regarding
special
education
SE 56
Special
education
programs and
services are
evaluated
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

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

Staff Interviews
partial
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Documentation
Staff Interviews
amount of outside professional
development opportunities to
staff, in addition to providing
training within the district.
The district submitted an
evaluation of the provision of
special education at the high
school, from an outside
consultant. A listing was
included of how each of the 10
recommendations could be
addressed.
The same consultant reviewed
the academic support and tutorial
programs as well, with 8
recommendations. No specific
follow-up was noted for these
items.
Other
Requirements
12
partial
Submit a detailed report of
changes made and scheduled to
be made as a result of the
evaluations, by June 17, 2005
Also submit a three-year plan
for addressing and/or
implementing each
recommendation and for
follow-up evaluations of
programs, services and
administration.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 2
Required and
optional
assessments
SE 9
Eligibility
determination
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification


Student records
Staff interviews

SE 43
Behavioral
Interventions

Student records
Documentation
Staff Interviews

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Staff interviews
SE 34
Continuum of
alternative
services and
placement
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Documentation
Student records
The district conducts required
assessments and optional
assessments, as recommended,
for students referred for special
education evaluations, and uses
appropriately credentialed and
trained specialists.
The district generally conducts
evaluations and provides the IEP
to the parents within regulated
timeframes.
The district offers a continuum of
services and placements to meet
the needs of students in special
education.
The district has conducted
Functional Behavioral
Assessments and developed
13
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)
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Behavioral Intervention Plans
for students whose behavior
impedes learning.
14
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 46
Procedures for
suspensions of
students with
disabilities
when
suspensions
exceed 10
consecutive
school days or a
pattern has
developed for
suspensions
exceeding 10
cumulative
days;
responsibilities
of the Team;
responsibilities
of the district
SE 47
Procedural
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
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
Discipline procedures
appear to address
students with IEP’s
but it is not clear that
other disabled
students (on 504
Plans) also have these
protections.
Modify the student handbook
to include all students with a
disability.

Documentation
Documentation
The district procedures for
suspension of students with
special needs provides required
due process, review and
protections for eligible students.
The school district submitted
15
Submit a copy of the modified
procedures, by June 17, 2005.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
requirements
applied to
students not yet
determined to
be eligible for
special
education
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

documentation that indicates the
district understands the
procedural requirements under
this criterion.
16
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 57
Special
Education child
count
MOA 2
Program
modifications
and support for
limitedEnglishProficient
students
MOA 10A
Handbooks and
code of conduct
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Documentation
The district maintains
appropriate procedures to ensure
that an accurate child count is
provided to the Department of
Education.

The district submitted
information that describes how it
makes necessary program
modifications to effectively serve
limited English proficient
students.

The district submitted a Spanish
translation of the entire student
handbook and discipline
procedures translated into
Portuguese.
MOA 12A
17
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)
Annual and
continuous
notification
concerning nondiscrimination
and
coordinators
MOA 17A
Use of physical
restraint on any
student enrolled
in a publiclyfunded
education
program
MOA 18A
School district
employment
practices
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


Documentation
Documentation
Staff Interviews

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
Training and/or a
review of restraint
policies and
procedures are not
routinely conducted
within 30 days of the
start of the school
year and whenever
new staff are hired.
Submit an assurance that
training will be provided
within mandated timelines, by
June 17, 2005.

Staff Interviews

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Documentation
Staff Interviews
The district submitted
documentation that indicates
there is annual and continuous
notification concerning nondiscrimination and identification
of coordinators.
The district has provided training
and written information on the
requirements of physical
restraints. The district has
provided restraint training to a
group of staff.
The school district submitted
information regarding its nondiscriminatory recruitment and
hiring activities.
18
19