DESE To Review Waltham’s English Language Education Program

WALTHAM, MA — The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Language Acquisition will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Waltham Pubic Schools the week of Monday, March 7.

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 recordkeeping.

In addition to the onsite visit, family outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Language Acquisition will send a survey to the parents or guardians of students in the English learner education program. Survey results 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, the necessary arrangements will be made.

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