INTRODUCTION TO THE FINAL REPORT During the week of December 7, 2015, a two-member Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education team visited the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) to evaluate the implementation of selected criteria in the program areas of special education, civil rights and other related general education requirements. The team visited the programs located in the following public schools: Acushnet Elementary School, East Fair Haven Elementary School, Ford Middle School, Dartmouth High School, and Old Rochester Elementary School. The team appreciated the opportunity to interview staff and to observe classroom facilities and to review the programs underway in the collaborative. The Department is submitting the following Coordinated Program Review Report containing findings made pursuant to this onsite visit. In preparing this report, the team reviewed extensive written documentation regarding the operation of the district's programs, together with information gathered by means of the following Department program review methods: Interviews of two administrative staff. Interviews of 15 teaching and support services staff across all levels. Student record reviews: Samples of 30 special education student records. These student records were first examined by local staff, whose findings were then verified by the onsite team using standard Department record review procedures. Surveys of parents of students with disabilities: Thirty parents of students with disabilities were sent surveys that solicited information about their experiences with the implementation of special district’s education programs, related services and procedural requirements. Nine of these parent surveys were returned to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for review. Observation of classrooms and other facilities. A sample of 12 instructional classrooms and other school facilities used in the delivery of programs and services was visited to examine general levels of compliance with program requirements. The report includes findings in the program areas reviewed organized under two components: Special Education Legal Standards, Civil Rights: Methods of Administration and Other Related General Education Requirements. The findings in each area explain the by the team about the implementation “ratings,” determinations status of the criteria reviewed. The ratings indicate those criteria that were found by the team to be or implemented in a to the of substantially “Implemented” “Commendable” manner. (Refer “Definition of the report.) Where criteria were found to be either "Partially Compliance Ratings” section Implemented" or "Not Implemented," the collaborative must propose to the Department corrective actions to bring those areas into compliance with the controlling statute or regulation. The collaborative is expected to incorporate the corrective action into their professional development plans. MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT
INTRODUCTION TO THE FINAL REPORT During the week of December 7, 2015, a two-member Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education team visited the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) to evaluate the implementation of selected criteria in the program areas of special education, civil rights and other related general education requirements. The team visited the programs located in the following public schools: Acushnet Elementary School, East Fair Haven Elementary School, Ford Middle School, Dartmouth High School, and Old Rochester Elementary School. The team appreciated the opportunity to interview staff and to observe classroom facilities and to review the programs underway in the collaborative. The Department is submitting the following Coordinated Program Review Report containing findings made pursuant to this onsite visit. In preparing this report, the team reviewed extensive written documentation regarding the operation of the district's programs, together with information gathered by means of the following Department program review methods: Interviews of two administrative staff. Interviews of 15 teaching and support services staff across all levels. Student record reviews: Samples of 30 special education student records. These student records were first examined by local staff, whose findings were then verified by the onsite team using standard Department record review procedures. Surveys of parents of students with disabilities: Thirty parents of students with disabilities were sent surveys that solicited information about their experiences with the district’s implementation of special education programs, related services and procedural requirements. Nine of these parent surveys were returned to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for review. Observation of classrooms and other facilities. A sample of 12 instructional classrooms and other school facilities used in the delivery of programs and services was visited to examine general levels of compliance with program requirements. The report includes findings in the program areas reviewed organized under two components: Special Education Legal Standards, Civil Rights: Methods of Administration and Other Related General Education Requirements. The findings in each area explain the “ratings,” determinations by the team about the implementation status of the criteria reviewed. The ratings indicate those criteria that were found by the team to be substantially “Implemented” or implemented in a “Commendable” manner. (Refer to the “Definition of Compliance Ratings” section of the report.) Where criteria were found to be either "Partially Implemented" or "Not Implemented," the collaborative must propose to the Department corrective actions to bring those areas into compliance with the controlling statute or regulation. The collaborative is expected to incorporate the corrective action into their professional development plans. MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW REPORT
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