MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION MID-CYCLE REPORT WALTHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: March 13-14, 2013 Date of this Report: June 10, 2013 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 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: Required Corrective Action and Timelines for Implementation (b) Progress Report Due Date(s) and Required Elements SE 7 Transfer of Parental Rights and Student Participation and Consent at Age of Majority Document Review Interviews Student Record Review Document review, interviews and student record review demonstrated that the district consistently notifies parents and students of the transfer of educational decision-making rights one year prior to students reaching the age of 18.
SE 19 Extended Evaluation Student Record Review Student record review demonstrated that IEP Teams complete the ESE’s extended evaluation form to document additional evaluations when a Team finds a student eligible for special education but finds the evaluation information insufficient to develop a full or partial IEP. SE 22 IEP Implementation and Availability Document Review Interviews Student Record Review Record reviews, interviews and documents provided by the district indicated school adjustment counseling services are scheduled during appropriate school hours (e.g., not during student lunch periods) and appropriately
included in IEP Service Delivery Grids and with goals and benchmarks as determined by the IEP Teams. SE 24 Notice Requirements Student Record Review According to student record review, the district consistently responds to parental requests for evaluations within five days of the receipt of the parental request for an SE 29 Communications are in English and Primary Language of the Home Student Record Review Student record review indicated that when the primary language of the home is other than English, the district translates all parts of the student record.
SE 36 IEP Implementation, Accountability, and Financial Responsibility Student Record Review Please see the ESE’s comments for SE 22. SE 37 Procedures for Approved and Unapproved Placements Student Record Review Student record review demonstrated that monitoring plans are maintained in student files as required. SE 40 Instructional Grouping Requirements Students Aged Five and Older Document Review Interviews Document review and interviews demonstrated that none of the district’s special education classes exceed instructional group size. The district has developed a comprehensive system
Equal Opportunity to Participate Review Interviews Student Record Review comments for SE 22. SE 49 Related Services Document Review Interviews Student Record Review Please see the ESE’s comments for SE 22. SE 55 Special Education Facilities and Classrooms Facility Review Facility review verified that the Plympton Elementary School’s special education Learning Center is no longer labeled as such and the John F. Kennedy Middle School Life Skills program has been moved from an isolated corridor to a classroom