Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-5023
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
October 7, 2008
John D. Barry, Ed.D., Superintendent
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District
86 Powder Mill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Dr. Barry:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report. This
report contains findings based on onsite monitoring the Department conducted to determine the
effectiveness of corrective action it approved or ordered to address noncompliance identified in
your district’s last Coordinated Program Review Report, dated June 22, 2005. The Mid-cycle
Report also contains findings based on onsite monitoring of special education compliance criteria
that have been created or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004.
We are pleased to tell you that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has found
the Corrective Action Plan implemented by your district to have been effective in remedying
previously identified noncompliance in Special Education. The Department has also found your
district to have implemented special education compliance criteria that were created or substantially
changed in response to IDEA 2004, as well as SE 33 on the access of students with disabilities to
the district’s general curriculum (the curriculum expected to be taught to all students). The findings
of the Department are included in the enclosed report. You and your entire staff are to be
congratulated for your success in implementing new special education requirements as well as
maintaining compliance in areas where the Department found noncompliance during the
Coordinated Program Review (CPR).
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled CPR several months
before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate that this CPR will occur sometime during the 2010
school year unless the Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
1
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. Should you like
clarification of any part of our report, please do not hesitate to contact me at 413-858-4591, Ext. 1.
Sincerely,
Pamela Kenyon, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
James Vincent, School Committee Chairperson
Noell Somers, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinator
63 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Encl.: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Cover Letter 2008.doc
Rev. 2-21-08
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District
Date of Coordinated Program Review (CPR) Final Report: June 22, 2005
Date Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action Approved or Ordered: January 5, 2006
Dates of Corrective Action Plan Progress Reports: September 15, 2006 and December 29, 2006
Dates of this Mid-cycle Review Onsite Visit: April 15-18, 2008
Date of this Report: October 7, 2008
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.
Special Education Criteria Cited in CPR Report and Monitored in Mid-cycle
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective or
New Issues
Identified

SE 18 B
Determination
of placement;
provision of
IEP to parent

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
Basis of
Determination that
Implementation of
Corrective Action
was Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of
New Noncompliance
Review of student records,
documentation, and staff
interviews indicate that the district
consistently provides the parent
with the proposed IEP within 45
school working days after receipt
of the parent’s written consent to
evaluate.
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 1 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective or
New Issues
Identified

SE 28
Provision of
IEP or notice of
no eligibility

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
Review of student records,
documentation, and staff
interviews indicate that the district
has conducted training and updated
procedures to ensure that the parent
is presented with a proposed IEP
containing all necessary elements
and accompanying documentation
immediately following the Team
meeting.
SE 50
Responsibilities
of School
Principal and
Administrator
of Special
Education

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
Interviews, documentation and
record reviews indicate that the
district has significantly improved
the coordination between special
and regular education, including a
process for ensuring necessary
documentation is located in student
records and readily available to
staff as needed.
Basis of
Determination that
Implementation of
Corrective Action
was Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of
New Noncompliance
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 2 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective or
New Issues
Identified


SE 54
Professional
Development
regarding
special
education

Review of
documentation
and interviews
Basis of
Determination that
Implementation of
Corrective Action
was Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of
New Noncompliance
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Review of documentation and
interviews indicate that the district
has conducted extensive training
for its personnel including
analyzing and accommodating
diverse learning styles, making
accommodations within the regular
education setting, and the use of
the District Curriculum
Accommodation Plan.
Special Education Criteria Created or Revised in Response to IDEA-2004
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented

SE 3
Special
requirements

Review of
student records
and
A review of student records
and district policies indicates
that the district follows all
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 3 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented

for
determination
of specific
learning
disability
documentation
requirements for determining a
specific learning disability.
SE 6 ##1 - 3
Determination
of Transition
Services

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
A review of student records,
interviews, and documentation
indicates that the district
appropriately plans for
transition activities for students
with disabilities.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
A review of student records,
interviews, and documentation
indicates that the district has
extensive procedures in place
to ensure that the necessary
members of the Team are
present and remain active
participants throughout the
entire Team process.
SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
A review of student records,
interviews, and documentation
indicates that the district has
instituted a process to ensure
that the consent to evaluate is
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 4 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented

sent to the parent far enough in
advance to ensure timely
completion of re-evaluations.
In addition the district enlists
parental participation in
multiple ways, including
regular reminders of upcoming
meetings, rescheduling, and
conference calls if the parent is
unable to reschedule or attend
in person.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
A review of student records,
interviews, and documentation
indicate that progress reports
are completed in a timely
manner and consistently
include all necessary
information.
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Student record review and
district documentation indicate
that the district schedules Team
meetings far enough in
advance to ensure the
anniversary dates are not
missed. In addition the district
enlists parental participation in
multiple ways, including
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 5 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented

regular reminders of upcoming
meetings, rescheduling, and
conference calls if the parent is
unable to reschedule or attend
in person.
SE 25B
Resolution of
disputes

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Student records and
documentation indicate that the
district follows an appropriate
protocol regarding resolution
of disputes.
SE 33
Involvement in
the General
Curriculum

Review of
student records,
documentation,
observations and
interviews
Documentation, interviews,
observations, and record
reviews indicate that the
district has continued their
commitment to involving
special education students in
the general curriculum by
maximizing inclusion,
providing extensive training in
accommodating diverse
learning styles, and
collaborating with regular
education for inclusive
placements.
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 6 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented

SE 39A
Procedures for
services to
eligible private
school students
whose parents
reside in the
district

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Student records and
documentation indicate that the
district implements appropriate
procedures for services to
eligible private school students
whose parents reside in the
district; however, at the time of
this review, there were no
students who were found
eligible for special education,
including three private school
students that were recently
evaluated.

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Student records and
documentation indicate that the
district implements appropriate
procedures for services to
eligible private school students
whose parents reside out of
state; however, at the time of
this review, there were no
eligible students in private
schools in the district whose
parents reside out of state.
(SE 39A does
not apply to
charter schools
or vocational
schools)
SE 39B
Procedures for
services to
eligible
students in
private schools
in the district
whose parents
reside out of
state
(SE 39B does
not apply to
charter schools
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 7 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented

or vocational
schools)
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities
more than 10
days

Review of
student records,
documentation,
and interviews
The district has a procedure in
place for conducting
manifestation determinations
and placing students in interim
alternative education settings if
necessary. The district
conducts functional behavioral
assessments and provides
behavioral interventions and
services when needed.
SE 52
Appropriate
certifications/
licenses or
other
credentials –
related service
providers

Review of
documentation
At the time of the review, the
district did not employ any
related service providers for
interpreting services.
(to be reviewed
only with
respect to
providers of
interpreting
services)
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 8 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criteria from Other Regulated Programs Monitored During this Mid-cycle Review
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implemented
and Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

Corrective
Action Not
Implemented or
Not Effective
Or
New Issues
Identified

ELE 11

Review of
student records,
documentation,
observations,
and interviews
Basis of
Determination that
Implementation of
Corrective Action
was Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of
New Noncompliance
The district has implemented
supports for LEP students that
meet all elements of the
regulations. Record and
documentation reviews indicate
that LEP students participate
fully with their Englishspeaking peers, have access to a
full range of academic and nonacademic opportunities, and
have access to support services
in their primary language. The
district has developed and
implemented an ELL Policy and
Procedures Manual consistent
with these regulations. The
district has also implemented an
ELL summer program to ensure
that identified students are given
all opportunities to succeed and
are monitored closely both
during the school year and
during the summer.
Mid-cycle Report Format 2008.doc
Rev. 11/8/07
Southwick-Tolland Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
October 7, 2008
Page 9 of 9
Required Corrective
Action, Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Requirements