Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
June 29, 2011
Craig L. Jurgensen
Superintendent
Westhampton Public Schools
19 Stage Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Jurgensen:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district on May 27, 2011. During the MidCycle Review the Department monitored selected special education criteria to determine
your district’s compliance with special education laws and regulations. The review
consisted of information gathered from one or more of the following activities:
interviews, review of student records, examination of documentation, and classroom
observation(s).
The Department determined that one or more of the criteria monitored in your district
was “Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where
noncompliance was found, the Department has prescribed corrective action for the
district. This corrective action must be implemented 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 submitting
progress reports using the enclosed form.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that all of the required
corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in
the report. You must submit your statement of assurance to Darlene Lynch, Director,
Program Quality Assurance Services, by July 19, 2011.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have
questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Marc
1
Oldenburg at 413-858-4591 x6.
Sincerely,
Marc Oldenburg, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
cc:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education
D. Beth Lopez, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Irene Ryan, School Committee Chairperson
Laurie Farkus, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Westhampton Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: May 27, 2011
Date of this Report: June 29, 2011
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Required Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
SE 7
Transfer of
parental
rights at age
of majority
and student
participation
and consent
at the age of
majority
Not
Applicable
Westhampton Public School
District provides services to
students in prekindergarten through
6th grade and does not provide
services to students who are
approaching the age of 18.
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 1 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
review and
staff
interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Document review and staff
interview indicated that there are
no students enrolled in the district
that are in need of interpreters at
this time. The district does have an
appropriate procedure in place if a
need for educational interpreters
arises.
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 2 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Additional Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
SE 2
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion

Student record
review and
staff interview
Student record review
and staff interview
indicated that all
required and optional
assessments contained
the necessary elements
including information
on the history of the
student’s progress in
the general curriculum.

Student record
review and
staff interview
Student record review
and staff interview
indicated that the
district is appropriately
evaluating students
suspected of having a
specific learning
disability (SLD).
Written documentation
Required and
optional assessments
SE 3
Special requirements
for the
determination of
specific learning
disability
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 3 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
was found in the file of
each student suspected
of having SLD,
including all current
recommended SLD
forms and the mandated
Team Determination of
Eligibility Form with
the signature of each
IEP Team member.
SE 12

Student record
review
Student record review
demonstrated that threeyear re-evaluations are
completed within the
required timeline.

Student record
review and
staff interview
Student record review
and staff interview
indicated that the IEP is
consistently provided to
parents immediately
following the Team
meeting.

Staff interview
and document
review
Staff interview and
document review
indicated that while the
Frequency of reevaluation
SE 18B
Determination of
placement; provision
of IEP to parent
SE29
Communications are
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 4 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Parent advisory
council for special
education
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
district does not
currently have any
students who are in
need of translation
services, the district
does have a procedure
in place and resources
identified should this
need arise.
in English and
primary language of
home
SE 32
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
PI
Staff interview
and document
review
Staff interview and
document review
indicated that while the
district has made, and
documented, ongoing
efforts to encourage the
establishment of a
functioning PAC
including providing an
annual workshop within
the district on the rights
of students and their
parents and guardians
under the state and
federal special
education laws along
with other opportunities
for parents, there are no
officers or bylaws in
place at this time.
The district must develop
strategies to encourage the
formation of a PAC.
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 5 of 9
By October 14,
2011:
Provide a
description of
the newly
developed
strategies for
encouraging the
establishment of
a PAC.
By January 13,
2012:
Provide a
description of
the results of the
district’s efforts
to establish a
PAC. Include
copies of:
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
The PAC officer
list;
The PAC
bylaws;
School
Committee
agendas and
minutes
pertaining to
consultation
with the PAC;
Agendas of
PAC training
sessions or
meetings
conducted by
the district and
documentation
of other district
efforts to
support the
PAC.
SE 36
IEP implementation,
accountability and
financial
responsibility

Student record
review and
staff interview
Student record review
and staff interview
indicated that the
district oversees the full
implementation of all
IEPs.
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 6 of 9
Criterion
SE 40
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion

Staff interview
and document
review
Staff interview and
review of
documentation
indicated that there are
no instructional groups
that exceed the required
number of students.

Staff interview
and document
review
Staff interview and
review of
documentation
indicated that all age
span requirements are
within specified limits.

Staff interview
and document
review
Staff interview and
review of
documentation
indicated that the
district has had no
suspensions this
academic year. The
district has procedures
in place to record the
number and duration of
suspensions for all
students.
Instructional
grouping
requirements for
students aged five
and older
SE 41
Age span
requirements
SE 44
Procedure for
recording
suspensions
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 7 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 51
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion

Staff interview
and document
review
Staff interview and
document review
revealed that all special
education staff are
appropriately certified.

Staff interview
and document
review
Staff interview and
document review
revealed that OT, PT,
Speech and Language,
and the School
Psychologist are all
appropriately licensed.
The School Adjustment
Counselor is operating
under a current waiver
and expects to be
licensed within the
remainder of this
academic year.

Staff interview
and
observation
A tour of the
elementary school and a
review of floor plans
indicated that special
education in the district
is provided in
Appropriate special
education teacher
licensure
SE 52
Appropriate
certifications/licenses
or other credentials - related service
provider
SE 55
Special education
facilities and
classrooms
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 8 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for
Implementation
classrooms and
facilities that maximize
the inclusion of such
students into the life of
the school; provide
accessibility in order to
fully implement each
student’s IEP; are at
least equal in all
physical respects to the
average standards of
general facilities and
classrooms; and are
given the same priority
in the allocation of
instructional and other
space in order to
minimize the separation
or stigmatization of
eligible students.
Westhampton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 29, 2011
Page 9 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Westhampton Public Schools
M I D – CY C L E P R O G R E S S R E P O R T
Date Prepared: ____________________________________
Prepared by: __________________________________________________________________
(name and title)
Criterion: _______________________
Topic: ________________________________________________________________________
For each criterion for which you prepare a progress report, please



make a copy of this cover page,
fill in the information requested above, and
attach a complete description of the corrective action taken and any accompanying documentation.
(Description of corrective action for each criterion and any accompanying documentation should include all of the
“Progress Report Required Elements” for that criterion in the Mid-cycle Report.)
Send the whole set of completed progress reports to:
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
Rev. 12-10
Mid-cycle Report & Cover Letter with Mid-cycle PR Form 2011