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
May 11, 2006
Robert Sullivan
Superintendent of Schools
West Bridgewater Public Schools
2 Spring Street
West Bridgewater, MA 02379
Re: Mid-cycle Coordinated Program Review Report
Dear Superintendent Sullivan:
Enclosed is the Department of Education's Mid-cycle Coordinated Program Review Report. This report
contains findings based on onsite monitoring conducted to verify the implementation and effectiveness of
corrective action approved by the Department to address findings of noncompliance included in the West
Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Report issued on May 2, 2003. The Mid-cycle
Report also contains findings based on onsite monitoring of special education compliance criteria that have
been newly created or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004.
As you know, another component of the Department’s Mid-cycle Review is the review of your school
district or charter school's self-assessment in the area of English learner education (ELE). (In the
remainder of this letter, please read “district” as meaning “school district or charter school.”) The purpose
of this review is to determine whether your district is implementing the significant changes in M.G.L.
Chapter 71A, governing the education of limited English proficient students, that were adopted by voters
by means of Question 2 in 2002. The Department has reviewed your district’s ELE self-assessment
documents and, based solely on that self-assessment, is providing you in this report with comments on your
ELE program and, where necessary, corrective action to be implemented. Your district is urged to request
technical assistance in relation to any of these comments or prescribed corrective action. To secure
assistance, you may consult with your Mid-cycle Review Chairperson or call Robyn Dowling-Grant in
Program Quality Assurance Services at 781-338-3732. You may also consult with staff in the
Department’s Office of Language Acquisition and Achievement at 781-338-3534 and obtain additional
ELE guidance documents through the Department’s web site at http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/.
While the Department of Education found your district to have resolved certain noncompliance issues, the
Department’s onsite team identified new issues of noncompliance, either noncompliance with special
education criteria added or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004, noncompliance with ELE
criteria, or other new noncompliance.
In all instances where noncompliance has been found, the Department has prescribed corrective action for
the district that must be implemented without delay. You will find these requirements for corrective action
included in the attached 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 school district within the timelines specified. Your statement of assurance must
be submitted to the Mid-cycle Review Chairperson by May 19, 2006.
Your staff's cooperation throughout these follow-up monitoring activities is appreciated. Should you like
clarification of any part of our report, please do not hesitate to contact Nancy Hicks at 781-338-3714.
Sincerely,
Nancy Hicks, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education
Kathleen Grant, School Committee Chairperson
Linda Naimey, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinator
Encl.: Mid-cycle Coordinated Program Review Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT
West Bridgewater Public Schools
ONSITE VERIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
AND/OR IDENTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL NONCOMPLIANCE REQUIRING CORRECTIVE ACTION
Date of Coordinated Program Review (CPR): April 28, 2003-May 2, 2003
Date of Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action Plan Approval: December 1, 2003
Dates of Corrective Action Plan Progress Reports: February 23, 2004
Dates of this Mid-cycle Review Onsite Visit: March 21-23, 2006
Date of this Report: May 11, 2006
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN SEVERAL SECTIONS
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-Cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 1 of 10
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
The district has policies and
procedures consistent with
regulations. They have a form that
is used to document the plan for
transition services. The district
makes Chapter 688 referrals as
appropriate.
The record review indicated that
IEP Teams have the required
members in attendance. The
district has developed a form to
document the parent’s agreement to
excuse a Team member. All Team
meetings have an individual present
with the authority to commit district
resources.
(Refer to full
text of 20052006 CPR
requirements)
Special
Education
Criteria
created or
revised in
response to
IDEA-2004
SE 6
Determination
of Transition
Services
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance
SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation
Partial

Partial
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
The district conducts re-evaluations
before finding a student no longer
eligible for special education or a
related service.
Criterion
Determined
to be
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Partial
Partial
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
The district invites students
to team meetings at age 15
but the vision statements did
not always reflect the
students’ preferences.
By June 30, 2006 provide copies
of the vision statement from five
IEPs of students age 15 or older.
The record review indicated
that reevaluations were not
always completed and Team
meetings were not always
scheduled within three years
of the previous evaluation.
The district must develop
procedures to ensure that timeline
requirements are met. By June
30, 2006 provide a copy of the
procedures and the agenda of any
related training that took place.
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 2 of 10
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of 20052006 CPR
requirements)
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content
Criterion
Implemented


Method(s)
of
Verification
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Determined
to be
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
The record review indicated that
progress reports indicate the
progress on IEP goals and indicate
if the progress is sufficient for the
student to achieve the goal by the
end of the IEP period.
There is a new requirement in
IDEA 2004 for providing exiting
students with a summary of
performance. By June 30, 2006
provide a copy of a student
summary of academic achievement
and functional performance that
was provided to a student whose
services were terminated because of
receiving a diploma or reaching the
age of 22.
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 3 of 10
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of 20052006 CPR
requirements)
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs
SE 25B
Resolution of
disputes
SE 30
Notice of
procedural
safeguards
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities
more than 10
days
Criterion
Implemented

Partial
Method(s)
of
Verification
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews

Record
review,
documentation and
interviews

Record
review,
documentation and
interviews

Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
The district meets annually to
review and revise each student’s
IEP.
Criterion
Determined
to be
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Partial
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
The record review indicated
that the district did not
always meet before the
anniversary date of the
implementation of the IEP.
The district must develop
procedures to ensure that timeline
requirements are met. By June
30, 2006 provide a copy of the
procedures and the agenda of any
training that took place to address
this requirement.
The district has not had any recent
disputes that were resolved by the
BSEA. They were aware, however,
of the requirement for a resolution
session prior to a hearing unless the
district and parent agree to waive
this session or they agree to use
mediation.
The notice of procedural safeguards
contains all required elements in the
most current version and is
provided to parents as required.
The district has policies and
procedures that meet the
requirements of the regulations
when disciplining students with
disabilities. Interviews indicate that
staff members could benefit from a
review of these requirements
especially regarding the use of the
functional behavior assessment.
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 4 of 10
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of 20052006 CPR
requirements)
Approved
Corrective
Action
Determined to
be
Implemented
and Effective

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Corrective
Action
Determined
Not to have
been
Implemented
or Not to
have been
Effective
Or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective
Or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Civil Rights
(MOA) and
Other General
Education
Requirements
MOA 10
MOA 17 A


Documentation Review
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
Documentation indicates that the
district informs the public that it
does not discriminate and that all
groups are identified in their
statement of nondiscrimination.
The district has conducted training
and a sufficient number of staff
members in each school have had
restraint training.
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 5 of 10
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Requirements
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of 20052006 CPR
requirements)
Approved
Corrective
Action
Determined to
be
Implemented
and Effective

Method(s)
of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Corrective
Action
Determined
Not to have
been
Implemented
or Not to
have been
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
Other
Regulated
Programs
Addressed
During this
Mid-cycle
Review
SE 18 A
IEP
Development
Partial
SE 18 B
Provision of
IEP

SE 7
Age of
Majority
Partial
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
Record
review,
documentation and
interviews
The record review indicated that
IEPs contain required elements.
There was at least one person at
each Team meeting with the
authority to commit the resources
of the district.
N1 forms are issued as required.
Documentation indicates that the
parent is provided with a copy of
the IEP immediately following the
Team meeting.
The record review indicated that
the district sends out letters
informing the parent and student of
the transfer of rights at the age of
18. IEPs contain a blanket
statement under Additional
Information regarding the transfer
of rights.
Partial
Partial
The guiding questions were
not included on page 2 of the
N1 and the questions were
not all always addressed.
Provide copies of five N1 forms
that were issued when proposing
an IEP by June 30, 2006.
The IEPs did not always
contain documentation that
the age of majority
discussion took place at the
Team meeting the year
before the student was to
turn 18.
By June 30, 2006, provide copies
of the documentation of the age of
majority discussion from five
IEPs.
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 6 of 10
West Bridgewater Public Schools
English Learner Education (ELE) Requirements
Mid-Cycle Review Comments and Corrective Action Based on the Department’s Review Of Local Self-Assessments
(Please refer to full text of 2005-2006 CPR-ELE legal requirements and related implementation guidance at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/instrument/chapter71A.doc )
ELE Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Comments Based on the Department’s Review of Local
ELE Self-Assessment
Required Corrective Action, Timelines for Implementation, and Progress
Reporting
ELE 1
Annual
Assessment
The district has trained staff able administer the state required
assessments. Documentation indicates that during the 20052006 school year, the required assessments were administered
to LEP students.
ELE 2
MCAS
Participation
All LEP students participate in MCAS as required but there
was no evidence that the allowed bilingual dictionaries would
be available for the students.
Provide a copy of procedures that include the provision of the allowed word-toword bilingual dictionaries for MCAS participation by June 30, 2006.
ELE 3
Initial
Identification
These are plans to administer a home language survey but it
has not been translated into other languages. The district’s
procedures indicate that the survey would be given to all
students and thereafter to new students at registration. A
parent, however, must fill out the survey.
The district’s procedures do not indicate that all students who are identified
through the home language survey as having a first language other than English
would be assessed for English proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and
listening, using the English proficiency criteria set by the district. Additional
information on identifying LEP students is available at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/identify_lep.html. Provide amended procedures by
June 30, 2006.
ELE 4
Waiver
Procedures
ELE 5
Program
Placement and
Structure
The district has waiver procedures in place that are consistent
with regulations.
The teachers providing content instruction for LEP students
have had training in SEI. Teachers who will have the students
next year will also receive training. LEP students are all
receiving English language development instruction based on
English Proficiency Benchmarks and Outcomes.
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 7 of 10
ELE Criterion
Number
and
Topic
ELE 6
Program Exit
and Readiness
ELE 7
Parent
Involvement
ELE 8
Declining Entry
to a Program
Comments Based on the Department’s Review of Local
ELE Self-Assessment
Required Corrective Action, Timelines for Implementation, and Progress
Reporting
The district has not yet developed program exit procedures.
Provide a copy of the district’s exit procedures by June 30, 2006.
The district does not have methods in place other than those
provided for all students to reach out to parents of LEP
students.
The district must develop mechanisms for including parents or guardians of LEP
students in their children’s education. Provide procedures by June 30, 2006.
The district has procedures in place consistent with the
regulations.
ELE 9
Instructional
Grouping
LEP students are grouped appropriately.
ELE 10
Parental
Notification
The parent notice did not contain all required elements.
ELE 11
Equal Access to
Academic
Programs and
Services
LEP students have access to all programs and services.
ELE 12
Equal Access to
Nonacademic
and Extracurricular
Programs
LEP students take part in extra curricular activities. Supports
were provided to help a student prepare to try out for a school
play.
The district must provide a copy of a notice containing all required elements that
would be sent to parents upon their child’s placement in an ELE program by June
30, 2006.
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 8 of 10
ELE Criterion
Number
and
Topic
ELE 13
Comments Based on the Department’s Review of Local
ELE Self-Assessment
Required Corrective Action, Timelines for Implementation, and Progress
Reporting
The district has not yet developed procedures to monitor
students who have exited from an English learner program.
The district must provide a copy of the procedures that will be used to monitor
students who have exited from an ELL program by June 30, 2006.
ELE 14
Licensure and
Fluency
Requirements
The teacher who is providing English language development
instruction to LEP students is a certified teacher who had had
training in ESL and is under the supervision of a certified ESL
teacher, however, she herself is not certified in ESL.
The district must explain how an individual who holds appropriate license or a
current waiver will provide English language instruction by June 30, 2006.
ELE 15
Professional
Development
Requirements
Teachers providing SEI have completed professional
development in at least one of the four training categories.
Follow-up
Support
ELE 16
Equitable
Facilities (To be reviewed
during next
CPR visit)
ELE 17
DOE Data
Submission
Requirements
and Program
Evaluation
Data submitted to the Department have been found to be
incorrect and have been corrected for the March 1, 2006
report.
ELE 18 Records
of LEP
Students(To be reviewed
during next
CPR visit.)
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 9 of 10
Mid-cycle Cover Letter and Report Format 2006.doc
Rev. 3/1/06
West Bridgewater Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 11, 2006
Page 10 of 10