Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
June 21, 2011
John Antonucci, Superintendent
Westwood Public Schools
220 Nahatan Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Antonucci:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in April 2011. During the Mid-cycle
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: staff interviews,
review of student records, examination of documentation, and/or classroom observation.
We are pleased to tell you that the Department has found your district to be in compliance
with all of the criteria monitored in your district during the Mid-cycle Review. 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 the requirements included in
these criteria.
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled Coordinated
Program Review (CPR) several months before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate
that this CPR will occur sometime during the 2013 – 2014 school year unless the
Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have
1
questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Doryce
Smith at 781-338-3718.
Sincerely,
Doryce Smith, 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
Vani Rastogi-Kelly, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Brian T. Kelly, School Committee Chairperson
Audrey Seyffert, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Westwood Public School District
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: April 1, 2011
Date of this Report: June 21, 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
SE 7
Criterion
Implemented


Transfer of
parental
rights at the
age of
majority
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Records
Interview

Document
Review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The district follows appropriate
procedures for the transfer of
parental rights at the age of
majority and student participation
and consent at the age of majority.
The district currently does not have
any students enrolled who require
the services of an educational
interpreter for the deaf and hard of
hearing. The district has procedures
Westwood Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 1 of 4
(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
in place that indicate that a person
acting in this capacity would be
registered with the Massachusetts
Commission for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing.
Westwood Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 2 of 4
(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
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Reports of assessment results
address, in educationally
relevant and common terms,
the student’s needs, offering
explicit means of meeting
those needs.
The Team reviews the
Transition Planning Form
annually and updates
information on the form and
the IEP, as appropriate. The
Transition Planning Form is
individualized for each
student.
The IEP is completed
addressing all elements. The
Present Levels of Educational
Performance (PLEP) B page
of the IEP is completed as
required.
The district consistently
addresses the six federally
SE 4
Reports of
assessment
results

Student
Records
SE 6
Determination of
transition
services

Student
Records
SE 18A
IEP development
and content

Student
Records
SE 24
Notice to parent

Student
Records
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Westwood Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 3 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
regarding
proposal or
refusal to initiate
or change the
identification,
evaluation, or
educational
placement of the
student or the
provision of
FAPE
SE 53
Use of
paraprofessionals
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
required questions on page 2
of the Notice of Proposed
School District Action (N1).

Document
Review
Interview
SE 55
Special education
facilities and
classrooms
Basis of Determination about
Criterion

Observation
Interview
Paraprofessionals at the
middle and high school levels
take part in training
opportunities offered by the
district.
A tour of the Downey
Elementary School indicated
that the classroom used for
occupational therapy and
physical therapy provides for
confidentiality and privacy.
Westwood Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
June 21, 2011
Page 4 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements