COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Charter School or District: West Springfield
MCR Onsite Dates: 04/12/2012
Program Area: Special Education
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
MID-CYCLE REPORT
SE Criterion # 7 - Transfer of parental rights at age of majority and
student participation and consent at the age of majority
Rating:
Implemented
Basis for Findings:
Documents, student record review and interviews indicated that one year prior to
the student reaching 18, the district informs the student and the parent/guardian
of the rights that will transfer from the parent/guardian to the student upon the
student's 18th birthday.
SE Criterion # 8 - IEP Team composition and attendance
Rating:
Implemented
Basis for Findings:
Student record review and interviews indicated that members of the IEP Team
attend meetings unless the district and the parent agree, in writing, that the
attendance of the member is not necessary because the member's area of the
curriculum or related services is not being modified or discussed. When the
district and the parent agree, in writing, to excuse a required Team member's
participation, the excused member provides written input into the development of
the IEP to the parent and the IEP Team prior to the meeting.
SE Criterion # 9 - Timeline for determination of eligibility and provision
of documentation to parent
Rating:
Partially Implemented
Basis for Findings:
Student record review and interviews indicated that the district did not
consistently determine whether the student is eligible for special education and
provide the parent with a proposed IEP and placement within 45 days after
receiving the parent's written consent to an evaluation.
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Conduct an analysis of a cross section of IEPs (initial and re-evaluations
conducted at all levels) from the past year to determine why parents are not
routinely being provided with the proposed IEP and placement within 45 days
after receiving the parent's written consent to an evaluation.
Based on the results of the analysis, provide the district's determination of the
root cause(s) of the noncompliance, along with the steps the district proposes to
take to correct the root causes and a timeline for the implementation of those
Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Program Quality Assurance Services
West Springfield Mid-Cycle Report - 05/31/2012
Page 2 of 5
SE Criterion # 9 - Timeline for determination of eligibility and provision
of documentation to parent
corrections.
Develop an internal tracking and oversight system with periodic review by
designated person(s) responsible, to ensure that parents are provided with the
proposed IEP and placement within the required timelines.
Select a sample of IEPs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels of initial
and re-evaluations conducted after the completion of all corrective actions and
review for compliance with timelines.
*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.
Required Elements of Progress Reports:
Submit a description of the root causes of the noncompliance, the steps the
district will take to correct the root cause(s) and the proposed timeline for
implementation of corrective action by October 15, 2012.
Submit a description of the district's internal oversight and tracking system with
periodic review along with the name/role of the designated person(s) responsible
by February 18, 2013.
Submit the results of the internal review of student records, including the number
of records reviewed; number of records in compliance; for all records not in
compliance with this criterion, provide the results of a root cause analysis of the
non-compliance and specific corrective actions taken by the school to remedy any
non-compliance, by February 18, 2013.
SE Criterion # 18A - IEP development and content
Rating:
Implemented
Basis for Findings:
Student record review and interviews indicated that the IEP Team considers and
addresses the skills and proficiencies needed to avoid and respond to bullying for
students identified with a disability on the autism spectrum, or students whose
disability makes him or her vulnerable to bullying, harassment, or teasing.
SE Criterion # 18B - Determination of placement; provision of IEP to
parent
Rating:
Partially Implemented
Basis for Findings:
Student record review and interviews indicated that the district did not always
Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Program Quality Assurance Services
West Springfield Mid-Cycle Report - 05/31/2012
Page 3 of 5
SE Criterion # 18B - Determination of placement; provision of IEP to
parent
provide the parents with the proposed IEP and placement immediately following
the development of the IEP.
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Conduct an analysis of a cross section of IEPs (annuals, initials, re-evaluations
conducted at all levels) from the past year to determine why parents are not
routinely being provided with the proposed IEP and placement within the required
timelines.
Based on the results of the analysis, provide the district's determination of the
root cause(s) of the noncompliance, along with the steps the district proposes to
take to correct the root causes and a timeline for the implementation of those
corrections.
Develop an internal tracking and oversight system with periodic review by
designated person(s) responsible, to ensure that parents are provided with the
proposed IEP and placement immediately following the development of the IEP.
Select a sample of student records for IEPs at all levels (elementary, middle, and
high school), and all types of activity (annuals, initials, re-evaluations), conducted
after the completion of the root cause analysis, and implementation of all
corrective actions and review for compliance with timelines.
*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.
Required Elements of Progress Reports:
Submit a description of the root causes of the noncompliance, the steps the
district will take to correct the root cause(s) and the proposed timeline for
implementation of corrective action by October 15, 2012.
Submit a description of the district's internal oversight and tracking system with
periodic review along with the name/role of the designated person(s) responsible
by February 18, 2013.
Submit the results of the administrative review and report: the number of student
records reviewed at each level;
the number of records in compliance; tor any records not in compliance with this
criterion, determine the root causes of the further non-compliance, and the
district's plan to remedy the non-compliance by February 18, 2013.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Program Quality Assurance Services
West Springfield Mid-Cycle Report - 05/31/2012
Page 4 of 5
SE Criterion # 25 - Parental consent
Rating:
Implemented
Basis for Findings:
Student record review and interviews indicated that the district obtains consent to
the services proposed on a student's IEP before providing such services.
Document review indicated that district has procedures for when a
parent/guardian revokes consent in writing. No parent revoked consent to a
student's special education services during the period of one year prior to the
mid-cycle review.
SE Criterion # 26 - Parent participation in meetings
Rating:
Implemented
Basis for Findings:
The district provided the student roster documentation required by the
Department.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Program Quality Assurance Services
West Springfield Mid-Cycle Report - 05/31/2012
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