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
April 11, 2005
Dr. Thomas McDowell, Superintendent
Westfield Public Schools
22 Ashley Street
Westfield, MA 01085
Re: Onsite Follow-up Monitoring Report for Coordinated Program
Review Corrective Action Plan Verification and Special Education Midcycle Review
Dear Dr. McDowell:
Enclosed is the Department's Coordinated Program Review Follow-up Monitoring Report
together with findings regarding your district’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle
Review. This report contains the Department's findings based on the onsite activities
conducted in your school district to verify the implementation status and effectiveness of
corrective steps taken in response to your Coordinated Program Review Report issued on
August 2, 2002.
We are pleased to indicate that the Department of Education has found your district's
approved Corrective Action Plan to be substantially implemented and effective in
remedying previously identified noncompliance issues in the areas of Special Education.
The findings of the Department are included in the attached Follow-up Monitoring
Report. You and your entire staff are to be congratulated for your efforts in implementing
all necessary improvements.
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled Coordinated
Program Review several months before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate the
Department's next routine monitoring visit to occur sometime during FY ‘08, unless the
Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
Your staff's cooperation throughout these Follow-up Monitoring activities was very much
appreciated. Should you require additional clarification of information included in our
report, please do not hesitate Martha Dodge, the Onsite Team Chairperson, at 413-284-
0382.
Sincerely,
Martha H. Dodge, Education Specialist
Program Quality Assurance Services
John D. Stager, Administrator
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education
Mayor Richard K. Sullivan, School Committee Chairman
Dr. Joseph Dupelle, Special Education Director
Encl.: Follow-up Monitoring Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
WESTFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ONSITE VERIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
AND/OR IDENTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REQUIRING CORRECTIVE ACTION
Onsite Visit Conducted on March 8, 9 and 11, 2005
Date of this Report April 11, 2005
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented

Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


Special Education Requirements
SE 3
Special
requirements
for
determination
of specific
learning
disabilities

Specific
Learning
Disability form
within student
records
The Team consistently
implements the special
requirements for
determination of specific
learning disabilities
Description of
district
implementation
practices
regarding
identification of
students with
specific learning
disabilities
Staff interviews
2
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 6
Determinatio
n of transition
services
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification


Student records
Staff interviews

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

(Emphasis on
practices in
determining
transition
planning,
services and
consideration
of courses of
study related to
transition)
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Student records
Staff interviews
The Team, based upon the
student's needs, determines
the appropriate transition
services for students. The
district ensures that
identified transition
services are consistently
implemented. Students,
age 14 and above, are
consistently invited to and
attend Team meetings.
The district ensures that
parents receive reports on
the student’s progress
toward reaching the goals
set in the IEP at least as
often as parents are
informed of the progress of
non-disabled students; and
the progress reports
include the student’s
progress toward the annual
goals and whether that
progress is sufficient for
3
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


the student to achieve the
goal by the end of the IEP
period.
4
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


SE 15
Outreach by
the School
District
(Child Find)

Child find
procedures
SE 17
Initiation of
services at
age three and
Early
Intervention
transition
procedures

Student records
SE 18A
IEP
development
and content

Staff interviews
Student records
Staff interviews
The district ensures annual
or more frequent outreach
and continuous liaison with
those groups from which
promotion or transfer of
students in need of special
education may be
expected, or which would
include students in need of
special education.
The district encourages
referrals from agencies and
individuals for young
children on/before that
child turns 2.5 years old to
ensure continuity of
services, development and
implementation of an IEP
for eligible children by
their third birthday in
accordance with federal
guidelines.
The Team, upon
determining that the
student is eligible for
special education, uses
5
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


evaluation data to develop
the IEP that contains all
required elements and the
district ensures that each
IEP Team has at least one
person with authority to
commit the resources of
the district.
6
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


SE 18B
Determinatio
n of
placement;
immediate
provision of
IEP to parent

SE 20
Least
restrictive
program
selected

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Student records
Staff interviews
Student records
Description of
district efforts to
establish less
restrictive
special education
programs and
practices
The Team fully develops
the IEP and determines
appropriate placement to
deliver the services on the
student's IEP. The district
consistently provides the
parent with the fully
developed IEP and
placement immediately
following their
development, and within
forty-five school working
days after receipt of the
parent's written consent to
evaluate.
The district ensures the
program selected for a
student is the least
restrictive environment
and, when removal from
the general education
classroom is needed,
transition to a less
restrictive program is
promoted.
Staff interviews
7
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 22
IEP
implementation and
availability
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification


Student records
Staff interviews
(Emphasis on
district’s
attempts to

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

(Emphasis on
provision of
IEP services
without delay;
provision of the
IEP at the
beginning of
the school
year; and,
alternative
methods of
service
delivery where
there is a lack
of space and/or
personnel)
SE 26
Parent
participation
in meetings
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Student records
District
continuous
improvement
plan
The district provides the
mutually agreed upon IEP
services without delay and,
at the beginning of each
school year; each eligible
student within the district
has an IEP in effect.
The district ensures that
one or both parents are
members of the Team and,
if neither parent can attend,
uses other methods to
ensure parent participation
in the Team process.
8
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
ensure parent
participation at
IEP Team
meetings)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


Staff interviews
9
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


SE 28
Parent
provided the
IEP or notice
of no
eligibility
together with
notification of
procedural
safeguards
and parents'
rights
SE 29
Communications are in
English and
primary
language of
home

SE 32
Parent
advisory
council for
special
education

Student records
Staff interviews

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Student records
Staff interviews
PAC parent
interviews
Staff interviews
The district, at the Team
meeting, fully develops the
IEP and determines
appropriate placement to
deliver the services on the
student's IEP. The district
provides the parent with
the fully developed IEP
immediately following its
development and without
undue delay.
The district ensures that
communications with
parents are in simple and
commonly understood
words and are in both
English and the primary
language of the home if
other than English.
The district has attempted
to re-establish a districtwide parent advisory
council (PAC) on special
education that is offered to
all parents of children with
10
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


disabilities and other
interested parties. The
district annually conducts a
workshop on the rights of
students and their
parents/guardians under
state and federal special
education laws.
11
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
SE 50
Responsibilities of the
School
Principal and
Administrator
of Special
Education
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation



District
organization
chart
Job descriptions
of Principals and
Sped Director
The district ensures that
principals and the
administrator of special
education fulfill the
responsibilities set forth in
state and federal law and
regulations.
Copy of DCAP
District policy
for educational
services in the
home or hospital
SE 54
Professional
development
regarding
special

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Description of
services
available to
limited English
proficient
students
District
professional
development
plans
The district considers the
needs of all staff in
developing training
opportunities for
professional and
12
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance


education
SE 56
Special
education
programs and
services are
evaluated

SE 8
Evaluation
Team
composition

District
description of its
evaluation cycle
that assesses all
special education
programs and
services
paraprofessional staff and
annually provides a variety
of offerings that includes
all required topics.
The district regularly
evaluates special education
programs, services, and
administrative areas.
Previous Issues of Non-compliance from Coordinated Program Review
SE 9
Eligibility
determination
and Timelines
for
evaluation,
Student records
District
continuous
improvement
plan

Staff interviews
Student records
The district ensures that
Evaluation Teams are
composed of all required
persons.
The district successfully
provides an evaluation and
convenes a Team meeting
within the required fortyfive school working days
after receipt of the parent's
13
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation


immediate
provision of
IEP
SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation

SE 19
Extended
evaluation

SE 24

Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Student records
Staff interviews
Student records
Staff interviews
Student records
written consent to evaluate
and immediately provides
the parent with the
proposed IEP and
placement, or a written
explanation of the finding
of no eligibility.
Every three years, or
sooner if necessary, the
district, with parental
consent, conducts a full
three-year re-evaluation
consistent with the
requirements of federal
law.
When the district finds a
student eligible for special
education but the
evaluation information is
insufficient to develop a
full or partial IEP, the
district conducts, with the
parent’s consent, agrees to
an extended evaluation
period.
The district provides
14
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
(Refer to full
text of
requirements
in 2004-2005
Special
Education
Information
Package)
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
Implementation
Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be
Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Not Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified


required notice to parents
regarding the district's
proposal or refusal to
initiate or change a
student's identification,
evaluation, educational
placement, or provision of
free, appropriate public
education (FAPE).
15
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and
Further Progress
Reporting