Taunton Public Schools Mid-Cycle Report 2013

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 3, 2013

Julie Hackett, Superintendent Taunton Public Schools 215 Harris Street Taunton, MA 02780

Re: Mid-cycle Report

Dear Superintendent Hackett:

Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in November 2012. 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 21, 2013.

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 Vani Rastogi-Kelly at 781-338-3728.

Sincerely,

Nancy Hicks Alger, 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 Joseph Martin, School Committee Chairperson Sheilah Reardon, Local Program Review Coordinator

Encs: Mid-cycle Report Mid-cycle Progress Report Form MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION MID-CYCLE REPORT

Taunton Public Schools

Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: November 19, 2012 Date of this Report: January 3, 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 http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html

Criterion Criterion Criterion Method(s) of Basis of Determination about If Partially Implemented or Not (b) Progress Implemented Partially Investigatio Criterion Implemented: Report Due  Implemented n (a) Required Date(s) and (PI) or Not Corrective Action and Required Implemented Timelines for Implementation Elements (NI)

One year prior to the student SE 7  Student reaching age 18, the district Transfer of Records informs the student and parental rights parent/guardian of the rights and student Interviews that will transfer from the participation parent/guardian to the student and consent at upon the student’s 18th birthday. age of Notice is provided to both the majority student and the parent/guardian

Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report January 3, 2013

of 13 Criterion Criterion Criterion Method(s) of Basis of Determination about If Partially Implemented or Not (b) Progress Implemented Partially Investigatio Criterion Implemented: Report Due  Implemented n (a) Required Date(s) and (PI) or Not Corrective Action and Required Implemented Timelines for Implementation Elements (NI)

and explicitly states that all rights accorded to parents under special education law will transfer to the 18 year old student.

Upon reaching the age of majority, students are signing their IEPs. SE 8 All required members of the IEP Team  Student Team are present at IEP Team composition Records meetings. Members of the and Team attend IEP Team attendance Interviews meetings unless:  The district and the parent agree, in writing, that the attendance of the Team member is not necessary because the member’s area of the curriculum or related services is not being modified or discussed; or  The district and parent agree, in writing, to excuse a required Team member’s participation and the excused Criterion Criterion Criterion Method(s) of Basis of Determination about If Partially Implemented or Not (b) Progress Implemented Partially Investigatio Criterion Implemented: Report Due  Implemented n (a) Required Date(s) and (PI) or Not Corrective Action and Required Implemented Timelines for Implementation Elements (NI)

member provides written input into the development of the IEP to the parent and IEP Team prior to the meeting. IEP Teams consider and  Student specifically address the skills Records and proficiencies needed to avoid and respond to bullying, Interviews harassment, or teasing when a SE 18A student is identified with a IEP disability that affects social development skills development, when the and content disability makes him or her vulnerable to bullying, harassment, or teasing, or when the student is identified with a disability on the autism spectrum. Student If the parent revokes his or her SE 25  Records consent to the student’s special Parental education services in writing, consent Interviews the district acts promptly to provide written notice to the Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report January 3, 2013

of 13 Criterion Criterion Criterion Method(s) of Basis of Determination about If Partially Implemented or Not (b) Progress Implemented Partially Investigatio Criterion Implemented: Report Due  Implemented n (a) Required Date(s) and (PI) or Not Corrective Action and Required Implemented Timelines for Implementation Elements (NI)

parent of the district’s proposal to discontinue services based on the revocation of consent, as well as information on how the parent can obtain a copy of the procedural safeguards. The notice is provided a reasonable time before the district intends to discontinue services.

The Pole Elementary School uses the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education/ Evaluation Consent Form N1A, as required.

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 Imple- C Method(s) of Basis If Partially Implemented or Not mented r Investigation of Implemented: (b) Progress  i Deter (a) Required Corrective Report Due t minati Action and Timelines for Date(s) and e on Implementation Required r about Elements i Criteri o on n

P a r t i a l l y I m p l e m e n t e d

( Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report January 3, 2013

of 13 Criterion Criterion Imple- C Method(s) of Basis If Partially Implemented or Not mented r Investigation of Implemented: (b) Progress  i Deter (a) Required Corrective Report Due t minati Action and Timelines for Date(s) and e on Implementation Required r about Elements i Criteri o on n

( P I ) o r Criterion Criterion Imple- C Method(s) of Basis If Partially Implemented or Not mented r Investigation of Implemented: (b) Progress  i Deter (a) Required Corrective Report Due t minati Action and Timelines for Date(s) and e on Implementation Required r about Elements i Criteri o on n

of 13 MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION MID-CYCLE REVIEW

School District: Taunton 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

Rev. 6/30/08

Taunton Public Schools Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report January 3, 2013