Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
December 11, 2008
Ms. Nancy E. Rosoff, Executive Director
Little People’s School, Inc.
Learning Prep School
1507 Washington Street
W. Newton, MA 02465
Re:
Mid-cycle Review
Dear Ms. Rosoff:
Enclosed is the Mid-cycle Review for Learning Prep School. This report contains the
Department's findings based on the onsite activities conducted in your school to verify the
implementation status and effectiveness of corrective steps taken in response to your Program
Review Report issued on October 5, 2006. This report also includes a report on the status of
implementation for new state or federal special education requirements enacted since your
school’s last Program Review.
While the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education found certain noncompliance
issues to be resolved, another was partially corrected and a new issue was identified by the
Department’s onsite team. Therefore, the Department is issuing a “Provisional Approval” status
effective from the date of this letter and indicated on your approval certificate. Your “Provisional
Approval” will expire on June 8, 2009. The reasons for the “Provisional Approval” are clearly
indicated on the attached Corrective Action Plan Implementation Checklist.
As the Department previously informed you, in cases where a private school fails to fully and
effectively implement a Corrective Action Plan which was proposed by your school and
approved by the Department, the Department must then prepare a Corrective Action Plan for the
school which must be implemented without further delay. You will find these requirements for
corrective action and further progress reporting included in the attached report together with any
steps that must be taken by the school to fully implement new special education requirements.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that the Department's requirements
for corrective action will be implemented by your private school within the timelines specified.
Your statement of assurance must be submitted to the Department's Onsite Chairperson by
January 9, 2009.
Page 1 of 2
Your staff's cooperation throughout these follow-up monitoring activities is appreciated. Should
you require additional clarification of information included in our report, please do not hesitate to
contact the Onsite Team Chairperson at 781-338-3723.
Sincerely,
Mary K. Howard, Program Review Follow-up Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Encl.: Follow-up Monitoring Report
Provisional Private School Approval Certificate, Expiration Date: June 8, 2009
Page 2 of 2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE SCHOOL MID-CYCLE PROGRAM REVIEW
Little People’s School, Inc.
Learning Prep School
ONSITE VERIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
AND/OR IDENTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REQUIRING CORRECTIVE ACTION
Action Plan Submitted on November 24, 2006
Progress Reports Submitted on Feb. 12, May 29, June 21, 2007
Onsite Visit Conducted on November 5 and 6, 2008
Date of this Report: December 11, 2008
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
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

Selected Approved Private School Mid-cycle Review Criteria
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 1 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

2.2 Approvals,
Licenses,
Certificates of
Inspection

Documentation
and Student
record review
Not applicable

Learning Prep School has
current licenses, approvals and
certificate of inspections by all
required state and local
agencies.
Learning Prep is a day school
program and therefore, is not
required to obtain a license
from EEC.
102 CMR 3.00
(Residential
Schools only)
8.4 Program
Modifications
and Support
Services for
Limited
English
Proficient
Students
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance

18.04(1);
28.09(2)(b)(5);
28.09(5) (b);
28.09(6) (b, c)
2.3 EEC
Licensure
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
Documentation
review
Learning Prep has a policy for
Program Modifications and
Support Services for Limited
English Proficient Students
that meets all current
requirements.
M.G.L. c. 71A;
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 2 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
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 Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting

Title VI

Documentation
review
Learning Prep has on file a
current IEP for each MA
enrolled student that has been
issued by the responsible
public school district,
consented to and dated by
student’s parent (or student
when applicable).

Documentation
review
Learning Prep submitted
documentation that it has at
least one designated
educational administrator who
is appropriately licensed.
8.5 Current
IEP & Student
Roster
28.09(5)(a)
11.3
Educational
Administrator
Qualifications
28.09(5)(a);
28.09(7)(a);
603 CMR
44.00
11.4 Teachers
(Special
Education
Teachers and
Regular
Education
Documentation
review

Not all teachers on the
submitted Special
Education and Regular
Education Roster were
appropriately licensed.
Additionally, the
Department is unable to
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 3 of 10
Learning Prep must submit an
updated master staff roster
indicating that all teachers are
licensed or have been granted
waivers. Submit by February
13, 2009.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

verify that all teaching
positions have been
approved. (Please see
11.6.)
18.05(11)(f);
28.09(5)(a);
28.09(7)(b, c);
34 CFR
300.321

Documentation
review
Leaning Prep submitted a
current Related Services Staff
roster and documentation that
staff providing or supervising
the provision of related
services are appropriately
certified, licensed or registered
in their professional areas.
Documentation
review;
Interviews
Learning Prep submitted a
master staff roster, however
the Department was not able
to verify appropriate positions
were filled since they did not
submit the last approved ESE
program budget.
28.09(7)(d)
11.6 Master
Staff Roster
28.09(7)
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance

Teachers)
11.5 Related
Services Staff
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified

PLEASE
NOTE the
Follow-up
action steps
described
under
“Comments
Regarding
Corrective
Learning Prep must submit a
program budget that reflects
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 4 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substantially
Implemented

Action Plan
Implementati
on that are
needed in this
regard.
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

the current staffing patterns
and includes the current
program costs as paid by
funding sources. Once
approved, Learning Prep will
be held accountable to the
positions of staff as indicated
in the full time equivalents of
each UFR position on the
budget.
Learning Prep must also
submit an updated staff roster
that includes all requirements
as specified on the master staff
roster form so that the
Department can then verify
the programmatic need of the
positions approved.
The budget and master staff
roster must be submitted to the
Department not later than
February 13, 2009.
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 5 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
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

Identified Areas of Non-Compliance During 2006 Program Review or Other Areas of Concern
3.1(a)
Contents
(Now 15.8)
5.2(a)
Contracts

Policy and
Procedure
Manual review
Learning Prep submitted
documentation and has on file
a copy of the policy for
registering complaints and
grievances for parents,
students and employees that
contain all required elements.

Policy and
Procedure
Manual
Learning Prep submitted
documentation that its
contracts with school systems
now include a statement that
allows the placing school
district and/or the Department
to conduct unannounced
visits.
Sample
contract
8.2
Implementatio
n-Related
Services

Policy and
Procedure
Manual review
Learning Prep submitted a
written description of how it
would provide services to a
visually impaired student or a
deaf/hard of hearing student
should a student with these
disabilities be admitted.
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 6 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

8.8 IEP –
Progress
Reports
9.1
Policies and
Procedures for
Behavior
Management


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 Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Learning Prep has
developed a process to
include student progress
towards reaching the
annual goal(s) set in the
IEP; however, this process
is being initially
implemented in the 200809 school year and
therefore progress reports
are not currently
completed or filed in
student records.
Learning Prep must issue
progress reports that reflect the
annual goals on each student’s
IEP as well as student progress
towards meeting those goals.

Documentation
and Student
Record Review
Documentation
review
Learning Prep maintains
internal progress reports in
each student record.

Leaning Prep submitted
documentation that it has a
comprehensive set of policies
and procedures dealing with
discipline and behavior
management that meet all
federal and state special
education requirements.
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 7 of 10
Learning Prep must submit to
the Department progress
reports for three students in the
elementary school, three
students in the middle school
and three students in the high
school. Documentation of when
and to whom the reports were
sent must be included. Submit
by February 13, 2009.
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
9.4
Physical
Restraint
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substantially
Implemented


Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation
Findings Regarding
Incomplete
Implementation of
Approved Corrective
Action Plan or
Identification of
Additional Issues of
Noncompliance

Policy and
Procedures
Manual
Student record
review
Learning Prep submitted a
written policy on the use of
physical restraint in
accordance with the
requirements of 603 CMR 46.
A copy of the parent guardian
annual consent form was
documented in each student
record.
9.5
3-5 Day
Suspensions

Policy and
Procedures
Manual
Learning Prep submitted a
copy of its written policy on
suspension procedures that
contains all required elements.
9.6
10+Day
Suspensions

Policy and
Procedures
Manual
Learning Prep submitted
documentation that it has a
written policy and procedures
when suspension constitutes a
change of placement which
now contains all required
elements.
12.2(a)
Details
Behavior
Management
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined
to be Not
Fully
Implemented or
Additional
Issues
Identified
See 9.4
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 8 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
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

and Restraint
Training
13.7
Library/Resou
rce Room
15.5Parent
Consent and
required
Notification

Observation
Observations revealed that
Learning Prep has established
a library in the Elementary and
Middle School building that
contains a variety of materials
appropriate for the age and
abilities of the students
enrolled and is available to all
enrolled students. They have
also established a library for
High School Students, which
is located in the Work Study
building. Both sites contain
computers with library
software and manuals which
index the title and location of
all books and resource
material in the entire school.
See 9.4.
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 9 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Implementation Status of
Requirements
or
Corrective
Action Plan
Determined to
be Substantially
Implemented
Method(s) of
Verification
Comments Regarding
Corrective Action Plan
Implementation

15.8
Complaints
and
GrievancesParents,
Students and
Employees
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

See 3.1 (a)
Little People’s School, Learning Prep Program Review Mid-cycle Report
December 11, 2008
Page 10 of 10
Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education
and Timelines for
Implementation and Further
Progress Reporting