During the week of April 3, 2023, the Stoughton Public Schools will have a tiered focused monitoring review for special education and civil rights, as well as for our ELE program. Please read the news releases below for more information about both reviews:
Special Education/Civil Rights
During the week of April 3, 2023 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Stoughton Public Schools. The Office of Public School Monitoring reviews each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP), Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.
Parent outreach is an important part of the review process. Prior to the review, the chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send an online survey to all parents of students with disabilities receiving IEP services. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the activities of the onsite review and the development of the final report.
The chairperson conducted a Parent Orientation meeting to explain the review process and provide parents with an opportunity to ask questions on March 15, 2023.
During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring reviews student records and conducts interviews, including interviewing the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) chairperson, as well as district administrators and staff. After the conclusion of the review, the public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports. Parents and other individuals may call Julie Evans, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at 781-338-3754 to request additional information, or contact Ms. Carolan Sampson, the district coordinator, at 781-344-7009 x 70295 or 70296.
ELE Program
During the week of April 3, 2023, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Stoughton Public Schools. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners, what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and record keeping.
In addition to the onsite visit on April 5, 2023, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district has sent a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines with. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.
Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at 781-338-3561 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide Stoughton Public Schools with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.