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
August 26, 2011
William DeRosa, Superintendent
Whittier Regional Technical High School
115 Amesbury Line Road
Haverhill, MA 01830
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent DeRosa:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in May 20, 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 September 13, 2011.
1
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 Jane
Ewing at 781-338-3741.
Sincerely,
Jane L. Ewing, 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
Dean Paolillo, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Charles Labella, Whittier Regional Technical High School Committee
Chairperson
Patricia Lowell, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
WHITTIER REGIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: May 20, 2011
Date of this Report: August 26, 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
Transfer of
parental
rights at age
of majority
and student
participation
and consent
at the age of
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Document
review
Interview
Student
Record
review
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The document review, interview
and student record review
confirmed that procedures were
developed to ensure compliance
regarding the notification to parents
and students before students reach
the age of majority. Based on a
review of submitted
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 1 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
majority
SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters

Document
review
Interview
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
documentation, the district’s age of
majority policy aligns with recent
guidance issued by the Department.
Document review and interview
data demonstrated that the district
has a staff member registered with
the Massachusetts Commission for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(MCDHH) for the purpose of
providing sign language
interpretation for students enrolled
at Whittier Regional Technical
High School (WRTHS).
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 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 1
Assessment
selection
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student
Record
review
Record review showed that
consent to evaluate forms
had an individualized
selection of proposed
assessments for student
evaluations. According to
the special education
director, the district has
provided over 15 hours of
professional development
on assessments with special
education staff members.
Interview
SE 2
Optional and
required
assessments
PI
Student
Record
review
Interview
Record review demonstrated
that the district does not
conduct the required
educational assessments that
meet all the content
requirements of those
assessments for students
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The Department suggests that the district
employ the recommended Educational
Status assessment forms that can be
found at:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/28mr/28r
1.doc
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 3 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Provide a
description of the
newly developed
internal tracking
system including
the dates for
periodic reviews
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
who are identified as having
a Specific Learning
Disability.
Alternatively, the district may
incorporate the elements missing from
the district’s forms upon review of the
Department’s recommended forms.
The district developed and
uses a teacher report for all
IEP Team meetings (e.g.,
annual reviews and reevaluations); however, this
documentation does not
contain all of the elements
required such as teacher
comments on student’s ageappropriate communication,
interpersonal skills, and
memory.
For annual reviews, the
teacher’s report is
appropriate, and it would
not require parental consent.
For evaluations, while the
forms of the Educational
Assessments A and B are
optional, the information
required is not optional and
should include teacher
comments on student’s
attention during class,
student’s interpersonal and
Develop an internal tracking system to
ensure that all of the components of the
required education assessments are
conducted. The tracking system should
include supervisory oversight and
periodic reviews to ensure compliance.
Provide training to staff responsible for
completing educational assessments on
the educational elements required by the
regulations.
Subsequent to the completion of all
corrective actions, conduct an internal
review comprised of student records with
initial and reevaluations from all school
levels to ensure that all components of
the required education assessment have
been completed.
Please ensure that the sample of selected
records examine activities that occurred
after the district completed its corrective
action activities.
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 4 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
and indicate the
person(s)
responsible by
November 21,
2011.
Provide evidence
of training for the
staff on the
elements required
for educational
assessments.
Include the agenda
and sign-in sheets
indicating the
title/role of the staff
attending by
November 21,
2011.
Submit a report of
the results of the
internal review of
student records.
Indicate the
number of student
records reviewed;
the number of
student records in
compliance; for all
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
communication skills, and
memory.
SE 4
Assessment
reports
SE 13
Progress
reports and
content


Student
Record
review
Student
Record
review
Interview
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
*Please note that when conducting
internal monitoring the district must
maintain the following documentation
and make it available to the
Department upon request: a) List of
student names and grade level for the
record review; b) Date of the review;
c) Name of person(s) who conducted
the review, their roles(s), and their
signature(s).
The student record review
demonstrated that
assessment reports
consistently included
educationally relevant
findings and
recommendations.
According to the student
record review and interview
data, progress reports are
issued at the same time as
grade reports and contain
information about the
student’s progress toward
annual goals.
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 5 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
records not in
compliance, please
identify the root
cause(s) of the
noncompliance and
provide the actions
taken to remedy the
non-compliance.
Please submit these
results by
February 6, 2012.
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs

SE 18A
IEP
development
and content

SE 18B
IEP placement

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Student
Record
review
Student
Record
review
Student
Record
review
Interview
SE 20
Least
restrictive
environment

Interview
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action and
Timelines for Implementation
The district consistently
convenes IEP Team
meetings to review and
revise IEPS as required on
or before the anniversary
date of the IEP.
The record review
demonstrated that IEPs are
completed addressing all
elements of the most current
IEP format provided by the
Department of Education for
students found eligible for
special education services.
According to the Special
Education Director, all IEPs
are signed prior to being
proposed to parents. Record
review demonstrated that
IEPs were signed prior to
parents’ receipt.
According to the Special
Education Director, a oneperiod weekly MCAS
preparatory class is provided
to all students as preparation
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 6 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
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
for the state assessments.
SE 21
School
day/school year

Student
Record
review
SE 22
IEP
implementation

Interview
SE 24
Notice to
parents

Student
Record
review
Record review demonstrated
that written notices
contained appropriate detail
and individualized student
information.
Interviews
Interviews with school
personnel and a parent
representative of the Parent
Advisory Committee (PAC)
SE 32
Parent
advisory
council
PI
Record review demonstrated
that extended school
year/day and schedule
modification is considered
for each student during IEP
Team meetings.
According to the Special
Education Director, all
general education teachers
are provided with IEP
summaries for students
enrolled in their classes at
the beginning of the school
year.
Please ensure that the PAC has
developed by-laws concerning the
election of PAC officers and procedures.
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 7 of 9
Please provide a
copy of the PAC
by-laws to the
Department. This
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
determined that the PAC
currently does not have any
elected members. The PAC
was unaware of any by-laws
of operation.
SE 33
Involvement in
general
curriculum
SE 40
Instructional
grouping

Interview
Please see DESE response
to SE 20.

Document
review
The district submitted
documentation for all
special education students
enrolled in the school;
special education students
are either in co-taught
inclusion classes or small
groups with at least one
teacher and one aide. All
instructional groups meet
the regulatory requirements
for students in full or partial
inclusion.
Interview
SE 46
Procedures for
suspensions
beyond 10 days

Student
Record
review
Interview
Record review indicated that
documentation for
manifestation
determinations clearly
indicated the reasons for the
suspensions and whether the
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 8 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
progress report is
due November 21,
2011.
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
student’s behavior was
related to a disability.
According to the Special
Education Director,
trainings on manifestation
determinations were
provided to general and
special education staff
members.
SE 54
Special
education
professional
development

Interview
Document
Review
The district provided
multiple trainings in
working with diverse
learning styles of all
students and collaboration
with peers for inclusion.
Whittier Regional Technical High School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
August 26, 2011
Page 9 of 9
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
WHITTIER REGIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
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