Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
July 13, 2009
Joan Landers, Superintendent
Wakefield Public Schools
60 Farm Street
Wakefield, MA 01880
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Landers:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report. We
apologize for the delay in conducting the mid-cycle which was due to a change in staffing and the
reorganization of the PQA unit. 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 August 16, 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.
While the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education found your district to have
resolved certain noncompliance issues, others were partially corrected or not addressed at all, or
the Department’s onsite team identified new issues of noncompliance, including but not limited to
noncompliance with special education criteria added or substantially changed in response to
IDEA 2004. The Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education
requires that all special education noncompliance be corrected as soon as possible, but in no case
later than one year from the time of identification; where the district has failed to implement its
CPR Corrective Action Plan, this one-year period has long since passed, due in large part to our
errors in not following up with the district’s progress reports.
In all instances where noncompliance has been found, the Department has prescribed corrective
action for the district that must be implemented without delay. (In the case of new findings of
noncompliance, this corrective action must be corrected 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 progress reporting. Please provide
the Department with your written assurance that all of the Department's requirements for
corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in the report.
You must submit your statement of assurance, addressed to Darlene Lynch, by July 27, 2009.
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 781-338-3715.
Sincerely,
Joan Brinckerhoff, Ph.D., 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
Anthony Guardia,, School Committee Chairperson
Kevin Pierce, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinator
Jean Jonker, CPR Interim Supervisor
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
Wakefield School District
Date of Coordinated Program Review (CPR) Final Report: August 16, 2005
Date Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action Approved or Ordered: December 19, 2005
Dates of Corrective Action Plan Progress Reports:
Dates of this Mid-cycle Review Onsite Visit: June 11-12, 2009
Date of this Report: July 13, 2009
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
Implement
ed and
Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 2
Required and
optional
assessments
Partial
Student records
and staff
interviews
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

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
Partial
Student records did not
consistently contain an
educational assessment that
includes a history of the
student’s educational
progress in the general
curriculum. The assessment
by teachers with current
knowledge regarding the
Provide guidance counselors with
training to complete the
Educational Assessment A.
Provide regular education teachers
with training to complete
Educational Assessment B. In
addition, provide a description of
the system of oversight the district
will use to ensure that copies of
The district is utilizing the
recommended Educational
Assessment A and B forms,
however they are not consistently
found in the records.
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 1 of 12
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed 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

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
student’s specific abilities in
relation to learning standards
of the Massachusetts
Curriculum Frameworks and
the district’s general
education curriculum, as
well as an assessment of the
student’s attention skills,
participation behavior,
communication skills,
memory and social relations
with groups, peers and adults
was also inconsistently
found in the student records.
these assessments are maintained
in the student record. By
November 18, 2009 provide the
agendas for training, the sign-in
sheets (name, role and signature)
and the oversight system. By
April 5, 2010 provide the
Department with an internal
monitoring report that indicates
the number of records reviewed
for Educational Assessment A and
B at each level, the rate of
compliance and the steps the
district will take to address any
areas of noncompliance.
SE 7
Age of
majority
Partial
Documentation,
student records
and staff
interviews
The district regularly discusses the
age of majority at a student’s IEP
meeting for students 17 years of
age.
Partial
The student’s choice is not
always found in the student
record or on the IEP. The
district form does not have a
sufficient amount of
signatures (school
representative and witness)
for documenting when a
student designates a parent
or another adult as decisionmaker.
Provide a copy of the revised age
of majority form by November
18, 2009. Conduct an internal
monitoring for age of majority and
report the number of records
reviewed, the rate of compliance
and any steps the district will take
to address the areas of
noncompliance, reporting by
April 5, 2010.
SE 9
Timelines
Partial
Documentation,
student records
and staff
The district records the thirty day
and forty five day dates on each
consent form.
Partial
Not all eligibility Team
meetings are held within the
45 day timeline. The
Develop a tracking system for
timelines. Provide a copy of the
tracking system by November 18,
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 2 of 12
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed 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

interviews
SE 15
Outreach by
the school
district

Documentation
and staff
interviews
The district maintains a notification
and mailing list for child find that
includes providers and agencies for
older students as well as young
children.
SE 18A
IEP
development
Partial
Documentation,
student records
and staff
interviews
IEPs are developed at Team
meetings.
Partial
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
provision to the parent of the
proposed IEP is not always
timely.
2009.
All elements of the most
current IEP required format
are not included for some
students.
Provide training for Team chairs
on completing IEPs. Provide the
agenda, handouts and sign-in
sheets with name, role and
signature by November 18, 2009.
Conduct an internal monitoring
for timelines and report the
number of records review at each
level, the rate of compliance and
the steps the district will take to
address any areas of
noncompliance by April 5, 2010.
Conduct an internal monitoring of
IEPs and provide a summary
report that indicates the number of
records reviewed at each level, the
rate of compliance and the steps
the district will take to address
areas of noncompliance by April
5, 2010.
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 3 of 12
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed and
Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 18B
Provision of
IEP to parent
Partial
Documentation,
student records
and staff
interviews
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

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
Partial
The proposal of the IEP does
not meet the criteria for
immediate even with the use
of the Summary of IEP
Team that has goal areas and
grid services identified on it
and is provided to parents at
the end of the meeting.
Develop procedures to ensure the
IEP is provided to parents
immediately. Provide the
procedures by November 18,
2009.
The district has not
documented monitoring
Provide a copy of the monitoring
form and three completed samples
The district dates the Notice to
propose the IEP in a timely
manner.
SE 20
LRE

Student records
and staff
interviews
The nonparticipation statements
were included for all students who
received pull out service on grid C
of the service delivery grid.
SE 34
Continuum of
alternative and
services
placements

Documentation,
student records
and staff
interviews
The district has a variety of
vocational and occupational
options for high school students.
Options range from business to TV
production to culinary.
SE 37
Procedures for
Partial
Documentation,
student records
The district maintains a copy of the
contracts for each publicly funded
Partially
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 4 of 12
Conduct internal monitoring and
provide a summary report that
indicates the number of records
reviewed at each level, the rate of
compliance and the steps the
district will take to address areas
of noncompliance by April 5,
2010.
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed and
Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

and staff
interviews
approved and
unapproved
out-of-district
placements
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
or Not
Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

placements that have the required
content.
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
activities for students in outof-district placements.
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
by November 18, 2009.
Conduct an internal monitoring
and provide a summary report that
states the number of out-of-district
records reviewed, the rate of
compliance and the actions the
district will take to address areas
of noncompliance by April 5,
2010.
SE 50
Administrator
of Special
Education

Documentation,
student records
and staff
interviews
The district has instructional
support teams that document each
step of the process in the student’s
record.
SE 54
Professional
development

Documentation
and staff
interviews
The district has provided
differentiated instruction and other
trainings for general education and
special education teachers.
SE 55
Special
education
facilities and
classrooms

Observations
The on-site observation of Walton
Elementary School indicated that
the special education services are at
the end of a corridor that also
includes one small room for
reading instruction of all students,
not just special education students.
The students pulled out by the
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 5 of 12
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed 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

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
school psychologist or the speech
and language pathologist spend
most of their day in regular
education classrooms.
The clustered programs sited at the
Greenwood Elementary School
were moved to the Dolbeare
Elementary School where the
classrooms are not clustered.
The high school will move the
alternative program to room 1401
for freshmen and sophomores and
the juniors and seniors will remain
in room 3013.
SE 56
Special
education
programs
evaluated

Documentation
Several program evaluations have
bee provided as follows: Walker
Partnerships April 2006, Walker
Partnerships March 2009, and
Educational Specialists Associates
May 2009.
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 6 of 12
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
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

SE 3
Special
requirements
for
determination
of specific
learning
disability
Partial
Student records
and staff
interviews
Some records contained the new
learning disability forms.
Partial
SE 6 ##1 - 3
Determination
of Transition
Services

Student
records,
documentation
and staff
interviews
Transition plans were found in
each student record of transition
age. Several students had
transition goals in the IEP.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance

Student
records,
documentation
and staff
interviews
Attendance for IEP Team
meetings met the requirements.
Staff have been trained to use the
excusal form.
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Some records that should
have had a specific learning
disability form did not have
one. In other cases, the
forms were not fully
completed. There is some
confusion in the district in
terms of the observation
report that is required as part
of the determination of a
specific learning disability.
Provide Team chairs with training
on the requirements for
documentation for the
determination of a specific
learning disability. Provide the
agenda, handouts and sign-in
sheet with name, role and
signature by November 18, 2009.
Conduct an internal monitoring
for specific learning disability and
provide a summary report that
indicates the number of records
reviewed, the rate of compliance
and the steps the district will take
to address areas of noncompliance
by April 5, 2010.
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 7 of 12
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation
Partial
Student
records,
documentation
and staff
interviews
Several re-evaluations were
conducted within the three year
timeline.
Partial
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
The district does not have an
effective tracking system to
ensure that re-evaluations
occur within three years.
Develop a tracking system and
procedures for staff. Provide a
copy of the tracking system and
procedures by November 18,
2009.
Conduct internal monitoring for
three year re-evaluations and
provide a summary report that
indicates the number of records
reviewed, the rate of compliance
and steps the district will take to
address areas of noncompliance
by April 5, 2010.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content
Partial
Student
records,
documentation
and staff
interviews
Most of the in-district records
reviewed contained the
appropriate number of progress
reports for the level of the student.
Progress reports are written for
each IEP goal.
Partial
The student records
reviewed indicated that
progress reports are not
consistently placed in the
record for some in-district
students and several out-ofdistrict students.
In some cases students met
goals and new goals were
not developed.
Provide Team chairs with training
on monitoring for progress reports
that includes ensuring that each
goal has progress reports for the
period, that if goals are met the
student is provided a new goal or
services for that goal are
appropriately terminated and that
progress reports are filed in the
student record. Submit the
procedures, agenda and sign-in
sheet for training with name, role
and signature by November 18,
2009.
Conduct internal monitoring for
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 8 of 12
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
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
progress reports and provide a
summary report indicating the
number of records reviewed at
each level and out-of-district, the
rate of compliance and the steps
the district will take to address any
areas of noncompliance by April
5, 2010.
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs
Partial
Student
records,
documentation
and staff
interviews
Several IEP meetings were held
before the anniversary date of the
IEP.
Partial
IEP meetings were not all
consistently held before the
anniversary date of the IEP.
Develop a tracking system.
Provide Team Chairs and Liaisons
with training on use of the
tracking system. Provide an
agenda, sample tracking system
and sign-in sheet with name, role
and signature by November 18,
2009.
Conduct internal monitoring for
IEPs and provide a summary
report that indicates the number of
records reviewed at each level and
out-of-district, the rate of
compliance and the steps the
district will take to address areas
of noncompliance by April 5,
2010.
SE 25B
Resolution of
disputes

Documentation
and staff
interviews
The district has procedures that
include a resolution session prior
to attending a hearing.
SE 33
Involvement in

Student
records,
All students had involvement in
the general education curriculum
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 9 of 12
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

the General
Curriculum
SE 39A
Procedures for
services to
eligible private
school students
whose parents
reside in the
district

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
documentation
and staff
interviews
documented in the IEP. Each
Team meeting included a regular
education teacher for students who
participated in regular education
classes.
Documentation
and staff
interviews
The district conducts child find,
consults as appropriate with
private schools, calculates
proportionate share and does not
withhold services from students.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
(SE 39A does
not apply to
charter schools
or vocational
schools)
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 10 of 12
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
SE 39B
Procedures for
services to
eligible
students in
private schools
in the district
whose parents
reside out of
state

Documentation
and staff
interviews
The district currently does not
have any students in private
schools whose parents reside out
of state. The district is aware of
the responsibilities to implement
this criterion.
Partial
Documentation
and staff
interviews
The high school code of conduct
has procedures for due process.
The district conducts Functional
Behavioral Assessments and
convenes a manifestation
determination for special needs
students (504 and IEP students).
After the tenth day of suspension,
the students receive services on
the IEP and support for general
education.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
The language in the code of
conduct on one page refers
to ten consecutive days of
suspension and on the
following page states 10
days of cumulative or
consecutive suspension for
students with special needs.
The district needs to clarify
the language consistent with
federal requirements.
Provide a copy of the Student
handbook for 2009-2010 by
November 18, 2009.
(SE 39B does
not apply to
charter schools
or vocational
schools)
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities
more than 10
days
Partial
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 11 of 12
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
SE 52A
Registration of
educational
interpreters
Criterion
Implemented


Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Staff
interviews
The district is familiar with the
requirement. Currently there are
no students who require
interpreters.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Wakefield School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
July 13, 2009
Page 12 of 12
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting