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
January 3, 2013
Julie Hackett, Superintendent
Taunton Public Schools
215 Harris Street
Taunton, MA 02780
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Hackett:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based
on the onsite visit conducted in your district in November 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 January 21, 2013.
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 Vani Rastogi-Kelly at
781-338-3728.
Sincerely,
Nancy Hicks Alger, 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
Vani Rastogi-Kelly, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Joseph Martin, School Committee Chairperson
Sheilah Reardon, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Taunton Public Schools
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: November 19, 2012
Date of this Report: January 3, 2013
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


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Interviews
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
One year prior to the student
reaching age 18, the district
informs the student and
parent/guardian of the rights
that will transfer from the
parent/guardian to the student
upon the student’s 18th
birthday. Notice is provided to
both the student and the
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 1 of 13
(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
parent/guardian and explicitly
states that all rights accorded to
parents under special education
law will transfer to the 18 year
old student.

SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and
attendance
Student
Records
Interviews
Upon reaching the age of
majority, students are signing
their IEPs.
All required members of the
Team are present at IEP Team
meetings. Members of the
Team attend IEP Team
meetings unless:
 The district and the
parent agree, in writing,
that the attendance of
the Team member is not
necessary because the
member’s area of the
curriculum or related
services is not being
modified or discussed;
or
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 2 of 13
(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


Student
Records
Interviews
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content
The district and parent
agree, in writing, to
excuse a required Team
member’s participation
and the excused
member provides
written input into the
development of the IEP
to the parent and IEP
Team prior to the
meeting.
IEP Teams consider and
specifically address the skills
and proficiencies needed to
avoid and respond to bullying,
harassment, or teasing when a
student is identified with a
disability that affects social
skills development, when the
disability makes him or her
vulnerable to bullying,
harassment, or teasing, or when
the student is identified with a
disability on the autism
spectrum.
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 3 of 13
(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
Student
Records
If the parent revokes his or her
consent to the student’s special
education services in writing,
the district acts promptly to
provide written notice to the
parent of the district’s proposal
to discontinue services based
on the revocation of consent, as
well as information on how the
parent can obtain a copy of the
procedural safeguards. The
notice is provided a reasonable
time before the district intends
to discontinue services.
Interviews
SE 25
Parental
consent
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The Pole Elementary School
uses the Massachusetts
Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education/
Evaluation Consent Form N1A,
as required.
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 4 of 13
(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 a specific
learning
disability
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
PI
Student
records
Interviews
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Record review indicates that
when a student suspected of
having a specific learning
disability is evaluated, the
Team does not always create a
written determination as to
whether or not he or she has a
specific learning disability,
which is signed by all
members of the Team. If there
is disagreement as to the
determination, one or more
Team members do not
document their disagreement.
Review the student records in
which an evaluation was
conducted this past school year
and there was a finding of a
specific learning disability.
Analyze the written
determinations to establish the
root cause(s) of the noncompliance. Based on this root
cause analysis, indicate the
specific corrective actions taken
to remedy the non-compliance.
Develop an internal oversight
and tracking system to ensure
that when a student suspected of
having a specific learning
disability is evaluated, the
Team:
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 5 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit the
results of the
root cause
analysis with
specific
proposals for
remedying the
noncompliance
and associated
timelines.
Submit a
description of
the internal
oversight and
tracking system
and identify the
person(s)
responsible for
the oversight.
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
1. Creates a written
determination as to
whether or not the
student has a specific
learning disability,
which is signed by all
members of the Team;
or
2. If there is disagreement
as to the determination,
one or more Team
members document their
disagreement.
The tracking system should
include supervisory oversight
and periodic reviews to ensure
compliance.
Develop a report of the results
of an internal review of records
of students suspected of having
a specific learning disability and
who have been evaluated since
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 6 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Submit this
information by
March 22,
2013.
Submit a report
of the results of
an internal
review of
student records
and include the
following:
1) Number of
records
reviewed;
2) Number of
records in
compliance;
3) Results of
the root cause
analysis of any
records in noncompliance;
and
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
implementation of all of the
district's corrective actions for
evidence of compliance with the
special requirements.
*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.
SE 4
Reports of
assessment
results

Student
Records
Reports of assessment results
define in detail and in
educationally relevant and
common terms, the student’s
needs, offering explicit means
of meeting those needs.
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 7 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
4) Specific
actions taken
by the district
to remedy any
noncompliance.
Submit this
report by June
3, 2013.
Criterion
SE 9
Timeline for
determination
of eligibility
and provision
of
documentation
to parent
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content
SE 18B
Determination
of placement;
provision of
IEP to parent
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records

Student
Records

Student
Records
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Evaluations are completed
within 30 school working
days and the Team meeting is
held within 45 school working
days after receipt of the
parent’s written consent to
evaluate.
Progress reports for students
at Taunton High School
address all IEP goals and for
students at Taunton High
School and in out-of-district
settings, progress reports are
issued as often as parents are
informed of the progress of
non-disabled students.
The placement page of the
IEP is signed by the parent.
Parents receive a copy of the
IEP within two weeks
following the Team meeting
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 8 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 20
Least
restrictive
program
selected
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
Review
Interviews
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
and parents sign a statement
indicating that they have
received a copy of the service
delivery grid and a statement
of the major goal areas
associated with these services
at the meeting.
Documentation indicates that
offerings of inclusion classes
have increased over the past
two years at Taunton High
School and interviews
indicate that there is a
commitment to expand
inclusive class offerings at
Taunton High School in the
next school year.
At Taunton High School,
students with disabilities
receive special education
services in general education
English and mathematics
classes (among other subject
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 9 of 13
(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
areas), as indicated on the
IEPs.
SE 24
Notice to
parent
regarding
proposal or
refusal to
initiate or
change the
identification,
evaluation, or
educational
placement of
the child or the
provision of
FAPE
SE 26
Parent
participation

Student
Records

Student
Records
Professional development has
been provided in inclusive
teaching methods.
The Notice of Proposed
School District Action (N1)
meets all of the content
requirements of federal law,
as all questions on page two
of the form are consistently
addressed.
Student records contain copies
of the Team Meeting
Invitation (N3) notices that
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 10 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
in meetings
SE 32
Parent
advisory
council for
special
education
SE 37
Procedures for
approved and
unapproved
out-of-district
placements

Document
Review
Interviews

Student
Records
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
are sent to parents prior to
Team meetings.
The special education parent
advisory council (PAC) has
opportunities to advise the
district on matters that pertain
to the education and safety of
students with disabilities. The
PAC meets with school
officials to participate in the
planning, development and
evaluation of the school
district’s special education
programs.
Monitoring plans are included
in the records of students in
out-of-district placements and
there is documentation of
actual monitoring.
Interviews
Contracts with private day and
residential programs were in
the student records and meet
the content requirements of
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 11 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 54
Professional
development
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
Review
Interviews
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
603 CMR 28.06(3)(f)(1-5).
Contracts consistently include
a statement that the out-ofdistrict placement would
allow the district and/or the
Department to conduct
announced and unannounced
site visits and the contracts
contain a statement assuring
that the out-of district
placement does not
discriminate on the basis of
race, color, religion, sexual
orientation, or national origin,
and that it does not
discriminate against qualified
persons with disabilities.
Staff have received training
in:
 Analyzing and
accommodating
diverse learning styles
of all students in order
to achieve an objective
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 12 of 13
(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
of inclusion in the
regular classroom of
students with diverse
learning styles; and
Methods of
collaboration among
teachers,
paraprofessionals and
teacher assistants to
accommodate diverse
learning styles of all
students in the regular
classroom.
Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 3, 2013
Page 13 of 13
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Taunton 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