State To Monitor Tewksbury Schools In February

TEWKSBURY, MA — State officials will be in Tewksbury the week of Feb. 3 to monitor the school district for compliance with special education and civil rights regulations. Every school district is visited every three years by the Office of Public School Monitoring. The office also will perform parent outreach, and anyone who wants a telephone interview can contact the Public School Monitoring Chairperson Corey Steinman at 781-338-3742.

Accommodations including translation are available, according to the district's release. The office will also be sending an online survey to the parents of students with disabilities, with questions on the "key areas of their child’s special education program."

"During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)," the release continues. "Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations."

"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."

The district will receive a report from the state within about 60 business days. It will be available to the public at www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/reports/.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker.