Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-5023
Telephone: (781) 338-3000
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
June 18, 2008
Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Beach, Superintendent
Ware Public Schools
239 West Street
Ware, Massachusetts 01082
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Beach:
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 July 15, 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
2010-11 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.
4.
Sincerely,
Nicole Heroux, 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
Christopher Desjardins, School Committee Chairperson
Mary Birks, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinator
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
Ware Public Schools
Date of Coordinated Program Review (CPR) Final Report: July 15, 2005
Date Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action Approved or Ordered: September 27, 2005
Dates of Corrective Action Plan Progress Reports: September 18, 2007, August 20, 2007, October 31, 2007, February 2, 2008, and March 15, 2008
Dates of this Mid-cycle Review Onsite Visit: April 7-9, 2008
Date of this Report: June 18, 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
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance

SE 2

Review of
student records
and
documentation
A review of student records
and staff interviews indicates
that all required assessments
and when necessary, optional
assessments, are completed
within the timelines.
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 1 of 13
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
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance

SE 9

Review of
student records
and
documentation
A review of student records
and staff interviews indicates
that the district implements the
required timelines for
eligibility, conducting
evaluations, and follows the
procedures and provisions for
developing an IEP or Section
504 Plan.
SE 18A

Staff
Interviews and
documentation
Documentation and staff
interviews indicate that there is
someone who is able to
commit district resources at
Team meetings.
SE 18B

Review of
student
records,
documentation
and interviews
Documentation, record reviews
and staff interviews indicate
that the district consistently
provides parents with their
children’s IEPs and suggested
placement within the required
time period after receiving
parent consent.
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 2 of 13
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
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance

SE 19

Review of
student
records,
documentation
and interviews
Documentation, record reviews
and staff interviews indicate
that the district adheres to the
timeline of eight school weeks
when extended evaluations are
conducted and proposes a
partial IEP where appropriate.
The district obtains parent
consent and has a Team
meeting to gather information
about the students’ educational
performance.
SE 20

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
Based on a review of student
records and staff interviews,
the district selects the least
restrictive environment for
students and does not remove
an eligible child from the
general education classroom
solely because of needed
modification in the curriculum.
SE 22

Staff
interviews
Staff interviews indicate that
the district in all cases has a
current IEP in effect at the
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 3 of 13
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
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance

beginning of each school year
for each eligible student.
SE 24

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
Documentation, record reviews
and staff interviews indicate
that the district consistently
provides the parent a written
notice within 5 days of
receiving a referral for an
evaluation. Educational
notices are also translated into
the student’s home language.
SE 25

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
Documentation, record reviews
and staff interviews indicate
that the district obtains consent
prior to conducting evaluations
or initiating any services.
SE 26

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
Documentation, record reviews
and staff interviews indicate
that the district complies with
all required elements of this
criterion in terms of ensuring
parental participation in IEP
meetings.
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 4 of 13
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
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance

SE 28

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
Documentation, record reviews
and staff interviews indicate
that the district sends the IEP
immediately following the
Team meeting. Record
reviews further indicate that
the district does provide a
completed N1 or N2 form in all
cases when a student is
determined to be not eligible
for special education services
and programs.
SE 30

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
Documentation and staff
interviews indicate that the
district translates the notice of
parent rights when necessary.
SE 43

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
Documentation, record reviews
and staff interviews indicate
that the district’s behavioral
interventions are consistently
implemented as indicated in
IEPs for disabled students.
The school district when
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 5 of 13
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
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance

necessary includes behavioral
intervention plans in students’
IEPs.
SE 48

Interviews and
documentation
review
Interviews and district
documentation indicate the
district provides students with
the opportunity to receive
counseling services in his/her
native language.
SE 49

Interviews and
documentation
review
Interviews and district
documentation indicate the
district provides all the related
services required on the
student’s IEP.
SE 50

Interviews and
documentation
review
Interviews and documentation
review reveal that the district
developed a Curriculum
Accommodation Plan to ensure
that the needs of all learners in
the general education
population are being met.
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 6 of 13
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
Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance

SE 53

Interviews and
documentation
review
Interviews and documentation
indicate that all
paraprofessionals are
appropriately trained to assist
in providing special education
or related services.
SE 54

Interviews and
documentation
review
Interviews and documentation
indicate that the district has
extensive training for its
personnel including the
mandated topics.
SE 55

Interviews and
site visit
Interviews and site visits
indicate the special education
facilities and classrooms are
equal in all physical respects to
the average standards of
general education facilities and
classrooms.
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 7 of 13
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
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented

SE 3
Special
requirements
for
determination
of specific
learning
disability

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
A review of student records
and district policies indicates
that the district follows all
requirements for determining a
specific learning disability.
SE 6 ##1 - 3
Determination
of Transition
Services

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
documentation
A review of student records,
interviews and documentation
indicates that the district
appropriately plans for
transition activities for students
with disabilities. The district
conducts comprehensive
transition planning based upon
student input for students ages
15 and older.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance

Review of
student
records,
interviews, and
A review of student records,
interviews and documentation
indicates that the district has
someone who is able to
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 8 of 13
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

documentation
commit resources at Team
meetings and all the required
members of the Team are
present at Team meetings.
SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation

Review of
student records
and staff
interviews
A review of student records
and interviews indicates that
the district conducts reevaluations consistent with the
requirements.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content

Review of
student records
and staff
interviews
A review of student records
and interviews indicates that
progress reports include
information on the student’s
progress toward the annual
goals in the IEP.
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Student record review and
district documentation indicate
that the district in all cases
conducts annual review Team
meetings on or before the
anniversary date of the
implementation of the IEP.
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 9 of 13
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 25B
Resolution of
disputes

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Student records and
documentation indicate the
district follows an appropriate
protocol regarding resolution
of disputes that is consistent
with the regulations.
SE 33
Involvement in
the General
Curriculum

Review of
student records
and
documentation
The school district staff
understands the rights of
students with disabilities to
fully participate in the general
curriculum.
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 the
district implements appropriate
procedures for services to
eligible private school students
whose parents reside in the
district.
(SE 39A does
not apply to
charter schools
or vocational
schools)
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 10 of 13
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 39B
Procedures for
services to
eligible
students in
private schools
in the district
whose parents
reside out of
state

Review of
documentation
Review of documentation
shows that the district is aware
of 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.

Review of
student records
and
documentation
The school district has clearly
defined procedures for
conducting manifestation
determinations and placing
students in interim alternative
educational settings. These
procedures are implemented
consistently. In addition, the
district conducts functional
behavioral assessments and
provides behavioral
(SE 39B does
not apply to
charter schools
or vocational
schools)
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities
more than 10
days
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 11 of 13
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

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)
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 12 of 13
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
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
Requirements

ELE 11

Review of
documentation
and staff
interviews
The district has policies and
procedures in place to ensure
that LEP students participate
fully with their Englishspeaking peers and the district
provides access to the full
range of academic and nonacademic programming.
Mid-cycle Report Format 2008.doc
Rev. 11/8/07
Ware Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 17, 2008
Page 13 of 13