COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW

Every six years the Department of Education conducts an audit of educational practives and procedures as part of its ongoing efforts for program quality assurance.  The Commission of Education has notified the Superintendent of Schools, Michael L. Wood, of the upcoming Department of Education Coordinated Program Review.  As part of this Coordinated Program Review, Department staff will visit the District from April 24th - May 2nd.  Such visits are routinely conducted by the Department to satisfy federal and state requirement for the periodic review of specific education programs and services in schools throughout the Commonwealth.  The Department is reviewing several programs during this visit in order to use Department and schools staff's time most efficiently and to encourage strong connections among programs.

The Department's Coordinated Program Review will address the following areas:  Special Education, Civil Rights, and English Language Learners.  After reviewing school district policies for these programs, a Department of Education team will make its onsite visit, during which it will review individual student records, interview administrators, teachers, and parents, and observe instructional sites.  After the onsite visit, the team will prepare a report for the Superintendent and School Committee, with detailed findings for each program and an Executive Summary.

Using a scale of ratings from "Commendable" to "Not Implemented," the report will rate the implementation of each requirement reviewed by the Department of Education.  Where requirements are found less than substantially implemented, the district must propose to the Department of Education corrective action to bring those areas into compliance with statures and regulations.  Districts and schools are encouraged to incorporate the corrective action into their district and school improvement plans and professional development plan.  The school district may request technical assistance from the Department of Education in developing a corrective action plan.  Both the Department's report and the corrective action plan are public information and will be available to the public upon request.  Program Review Final Reports are also available on the Department's internet website at (Click here).

Any member of the public may request to be interviewed by telephone by a member of the visiting Department's team.  Those wishing to be interviewed should call the superintendent's office at (978) 779-0539 no later than April 3, 2008 to leave their name and phone number, or they may call the Department of Education at (781) 338-3715.  A member of the visiting team will contact each person desiring an interview within two weeks after the completion of the onsite visit.  If an individual is not comfortable communicating in English or requires some other accomodation, the Department will make arrangements to communicate properly with the individual.

The Coordinated Program Review will be a useful and positive experience for all staff members.  The report will be useful in planning for the continued improvement of educational services for all students.  The final report will be posted on the District's website when it arrives and is reviewd by administration and faculty.