DESE To Conduct Monitoring Review Of Waltham Public Schools

WALTHAM, MA — The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Waltham Pubic Schools the week of Monday, Jan. 31.

PSM visits 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.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is part of the review process. The review chairperson from PSM will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. The results will contribute to the development of a report.

During the onsite review, the PSM will interview the chairpersons of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.

Parents and other individuals may call Moses Nduati, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at 781-338-3707 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, the necessary arrangements will be made.

About two months after the onsite visit, the report of PSM’s onsite visit to Waltham schools will be available here.