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
January 10, 2012
Brooke Ann Clenchy, Superintendent
Winchendon Public Schools
175 Grove St.
Winchendon, MA 01475
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Clenchy:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based
on the onsite visit conducted in your district in October, 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: 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 January 27, 2012.
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 me at 413-314-6708.
Sincerely,
Tom Hidalgo, 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
Jean Jonker, Interim Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Michael Barbaro, School Committee Chairperson
Cindy Landanno, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Winchendon Public Schools
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: October 28, 2011
Date of this Report: January 10, 2012
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


SE 7
Transfer of
parental rights
and student
participation and
consent at age of
majority
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student
Records
Review of student
records and interviews
indicated that one year
prior to the student
reaching age 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
Interview
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines
for Implementation
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 1 of 13
(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
student’s 18th birthday.
Upon reaching 18, the
district obtains consent
from students to continue
their special education
program.

Student
Records
Interview
SE 8
IEP Team
composition and
attendance
SE 18A
IEP
Development
and content
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
Interview
Review of student
records and interviews
indicated that all
required members of the
Team are present at
Team meetings. Also,
the district does employ
the use of written
parental excusals for the
absence of any Team
member. When a Team
member’s participation is
required, the excused
member provides written
input for the
development of the IEP
prior to the scheduled
meeting.
Review of student
records and interviews
indicated that the district
did not consistently
address all elements of
Develop procedures to
address the IEPs of students
who may be subject to
bullying, harassment or
teasing. See the Technical
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 2 of 13
Submit a copy of the district’s
procedures to address the
IEPs of students with
disabilities who may be
subject to bullying and
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 IEPs, such as the
student’s strengths,
interests or personal
attributes. For students
identified with a
disability on the autism
spectrum, or for those
students whose disability
may make them
vulnerable to bullying,
harassment, or teasing,
the IEP Teams did not
consider and specifically
address the skills and
proficiencies needed to
avoid and respond to
bullying, harassment, or
teasing.
Assistance Advisory SPED
2011-2: Bullying Prevention
and Intervention
http://www.doe.mass.edu/spe
d/advisories/11_2ta.html .
Provide training to
appropriate staff on the
requirements:
1. to address all
elements of the IEP,
including students’
strengths, interests or
personal attributes,
and
2. to address the skills
and proficiencies
needed to avoid and
respond to bullying,
harassment or teasing
for students identified
with a disability on
the autism spectrum,
and for those students
whose disability may
make them vulnerable
to such behaviors.
Conduct an administrative
review of IEPs written after
the staff training to ensure that
all elements of the IEPs were
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 3 of 13
(b) Progress Report Due
Date(s) and Required
Elements
harassment, by March 1,
2012.
Submit a copy of the agenda,
signed attendance sheet
(name/role), copy of materials
used in the training and
name/role of person who
conducted the training, by
March 1, 2012.
Submit a report of the results
of the administrative review
of student records and include
the following: the
number of student records
reviewed; the number of
records in compliance; for
those records not in
compliance, determine the
root cause(s); and the specific
corrective actions taken by the
district’s to remedy the noncompliance, by June 15,
2012.
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
completed and that IEP
Teams considered and
addressed the required
elements identified above.
*Please note 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
levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
with their role(s) and
signature(s).

Student
Records
Interview
SE 25
Parental consent
Review of student
records and interviews
indicated that the district
obtained consent before
initiating programs and
services for students.
No parents revoked
consent to the student’s
special education
services; however, the
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 4 of 13
(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
district is knowledgeable
about the requirements
regarding revocation of
consent by
parent/guardian.
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
Required and
optional
assessments
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that the district
consistently
completes the
required educational
Interview
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 5 of 13
(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
Conduct an analysis of a cross
section of IEPs whose most
recent activity was either an
initial evaluation or
reevaluation from the past year
to determine why parents are
not consistently provided with
a proposed IEP and proposed
placement within 45 school
working days after receipt of
the parent’s written consent to
evaluate.
Submit a detailed
narrative description of
what the district
determined was the root
cause(s) of the
noncompliance and the
corrective actions the
district will implement
with associated timelines
by March 1, 2012.
assessments
(educational history
and teacher
assessment that
include a history of
the student’s
educational progress
in the general
curriculum).
SE 9
Timeline for
eligibility and
provision of
documentation
to parent
Partially
Implemented
Student
Records
Interview
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that the district did
not consistently
provide the parents
with a proposed IEP
and proposed
placement within 45
school working days
after receipt of the
parent’s written
consent to an
evaluation or
reevaluation.
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
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 6 of 13
Submit the results of the
internal review of student
records, including the
number of records
reviewed; the number of
records in compliance; for
all records not in
compliance with this
criterion, provide the
results of a root cause
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
corrections.
analysis of the noncompliance; and the
specific corrective actions
taken by the district to
remedy any noncompliance, by June 15,
2012.
Select a sample of student
records at all levels
(elementary, middle, and high
school) for initial or
reevaluations conducted after
the completion of the root
cause analysis, and
implementation of all
corrective actions to review for
compliance with providing a
proposed IEP and proposed
placement within 45 school
working days after receipt of
the parent’s written consent.
*Please note 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
levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
with their role(s) and
signature(s).
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 7 of 13
Criterion
SE 12
Frequency of reevaluation
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)

Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that reevaluations are
conducted every three
years unless the
parent and district
agree that it is
unnecessary.
Interview
Partially
implemented
Student
Records
Interview
SE 13
Progress Reports
and content
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that progress reports
were missing from
some student files and
some progress reports
did not address all the
annual goals in the
IEP.
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress Report Due
Date(s) and Required
Elements
Conduct an analysis of a cross
section of IEPs from the past
year for missing progress
reports and whether all annual
goals were addressed. 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.
Submit a detailed
narrative description of
what the district
determined was the root
cause(s) of
noncompliance with this
criterion and the
corrective actions the
district will implement
with associated timelines
by March 1, 2012.
Select a sample of student
records for evidence of
complete progress reports at all
levels (elementary, middle, and
high school) conducted after
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 8 of 13
Submit the results of the
internal review of student
records, including the
number of records
reviewed; the number of
records in compliance; for
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 completion of the root
cause analysis, and
implementation of all
corrective actions.
all records not in
compliance with this
criterion, provide the
results of a root cause
analysis of the noncompliance; and the
specific corrective actions
taken by the district to
remedy any noncompliance, by June 15,
2012.
*Please note 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
levels for the records
reviewed; b) Date of the
review; c) Name of person(s)
who conducted the review,
with their role(s) and
signature(s).
SE 14
Review and
revision of IEPs

Student
Records
Interview
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that at least annually,
on or before the
anniversary date of
the IEP, a Team
meeting is held to
consider the student’s
progress and to
review, revise, or
develop a new IEP or
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 9 of 13
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
refer the student for a
reevaluation, as
appropriate.
SE 20
Least restrictive
program selected

Student
Records
Document
review
Interview
SE 24
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

Student
Records
Interview
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that non-justification
statements in IEPs
state why the removal
from the general
education classroom
is considered critical
to the student’s
program.
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that the Notice of
Proposed School
District Action
(N1) includes
information about the
district’s
considerations and
proposed actions.
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 10 of 13
(b) Progress Report Due
Date(s) and Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 26
Parent
participation in
meetings
SE 34
Continuum of
alternative
services and
placements
Criterion
Implemented


Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of
Determination about
Criterion
Student
Records
Review of student
records and
interviews indicated
that in cases where
the district, after
reasonable efforts, is
unable to obtain the
parents’ participation
in Team meeting
discussions and
decisions, the district
conducts the Team
meeting and
documents its
attempts to facilitate
the parents’
participation.
Interview

Student
Records
Document
Review
Interview
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Review of student
records,
documentation and
interviews indicated
that the district has
programs to address
the needs of its
students with
emotional and
behavioral issues.
The district provides
small group
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 11 of 13
(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
instruction for
students who need
specially designed
instruction outside of
the regular education
classroom.
SE 41
Age span
requirements

Document
Review
Interview
SE55
Special
education
facilities and
classrooms

Observation
Interview
Review of
documentation and
interviews indicated
that the Life Skills
Program at the high
school meets the age
span requirements as
the ages of the
youngest and the
oldest student do not
exceed the 48-month
regulatory
requirement.
Observation and
interviews indicated
that occupational
therapy at the
Memorial School is
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 12 of 13
(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
conducted in an
appropriate classroom
setting.
Winchendon Public School’s Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
January 10, 2012
Page 13 of 13
(b) Progress Report Due
Date(s) and Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Winchendon 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