The  Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will conduct a review of tri-town schools this semester, visiting each campus between Oct. 5 and Dec. 11.

Called a Coordinated Program Review, staff from the department will address special education, civil rights and English language education at the schools. After reviewing procedures for these programs, a department team will make on-site visits, during which time it will review individual student records, interview administrators, teachers and support staff, survey parents and observe instructional spaces. After the visits, the department will prepare reports for Superintendent Doug White and school committees, with detailed findings for each program.

The report findings will be rated on a scale from “commendable” to “not implemented.” If any aspects of the school departments fall in the later category, then they must propose a plan to correct that area and bring it into compliance with state statutes and regulations. In such circumstances, districts will be provided with technical assistance to develop an action plan.

Once ready, the plans will be available to the public by request and can be found online at www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/reports.

Any member of the public may request to be interviewed by telephone by a member of the Department's visiting team. Those wishing to be interviewed should call the superintendent's office at 508-758-2772 ext. 1942 no later than Nov. 30 to leave their name and phone number, or they may call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at 781-338- 3736.

A member of the visiting team will contact each person desiring an interview within two weeks after the completion of the on-site visits. If someone feels uncomfortable communicating in English or requires some other accommodation, the education department will make arrangements to communicate appropriately with the person.

As part of this Coordinated Program Review, Department staff will visit the school districts during the following weeks: