Devereaux School Mid Cycle Review Report 2012
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts02148-4906 Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
November 8, 2011
Steven Yerdon, Executive Director
The Devereux Foundation, Inc.
60 Miles Road
Rutland, MA 01543
Re: Mid-cycle Review and Verification of previous Program Review Corrective Action Plan
Dear Mr. Yerdon:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (“Department”) Mid-cycle Report based upon the Mid-cycle review conducted in your private school program in November 2011. This Mid-cycle Review Report contains the Department's findings regarding the implementation status and effectiveness of corrective steps taken in response to your previous Program Review Report issued on January 5, 2010. This report also includes a report on the status of implementation for new state or federal special education requirements enacted since your program’s last Program Review.
We are pleased to indicate that the Department has found your program’s approved Corrective Action Plan to be substantially implemented and effective in remedying previously identified noncompliance issues. Additionally, we have determined that your program is in substantial compliance with any new state or federal special education requirements enacted since your last Program Review. You and your entire staff are to be congratulated for your efforts in implementing all necessary improvements. Your program will now receive an updated status of “Full Approval.” This approval shall remain in effect for three (3) years and will be contingent upon continued compliance with all regulations contained within 603 CMR 28.00 “Special Education Regulations” and 603 CMR 18.00 “Program And Safety Standards For Approved Public Or Private Day And Residential Special Education School Programs.” The Department may change this approval status at any point during this three-year period if circumstances arise that warrant such a change.
The Department will notify you of your program’s next regularly scheduled Program Review several months before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate the next routine monitoring visit to occur sometime during the 2014-2015school year, unless the Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
Please be advised that the attached Department Approval Certificates must be conspicuously posted in a public place within the program as required by 603 CMR 28.09.
Your staff's cooperation throughout these follow-up monitoring activities is appreciated. Should you require additional clarification of information included in our report, please do not hesitate to contact the Onsite Team Chairperson at 781-338-3704.
Sincerely,
Kerri Zeldis, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Rob Kreider, President, Board of Directors
Sherry Lynn MacNeil, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encl.:Mid-cycle Review Report
Full Private School Approval Certificates, Expiration Date: August 31, 2015
Page 1 of 2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OFELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE SCHOOL MID-CYCLE REVIEW
The Devereux Foundation, Inc.
Day Program
Residential Program
Westmeadow Residential Program
MID-CYCLE REVIEW REPORT
Previous Program Review Corrective Action Plan Submitted on February 3, 2010
Progress Reports Submitted on August 19, 2010; November 12, 2010; and February 22, 2011
Mid-cycleOnsite Visit Conducted on November 1-3, 2011
Date of this Report November 8, 2011
CriterionNumber
and
Topic / Implementation Status of Requirements
or
Corrective Action Plan Determined
to be
Substantially Implemented
/ Method(s) of
Verification / Comments Regarding Corrective Action Plan Implementation / Corrective Action Plan Determined to be Not Fully Implemented orAdditional Issues Identified
/ Findings Regarding Incomplete Implementation of Approved Corrective Action Plan or Identification of Additional Issues of Noncompliance / Further Corrective Action
Ordered by the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
and Timelines for Implementation and Further Progress Reporting
Selected Approved Private School Program Mid-cycle Review Criteria
2.2 Approvals, Licenses, Certificates of Inspection
18.04(1); 28.09(2)(b)(5); 28.09(5)(b); 28.09(6)(b, c) / / DocumentationReview / Devereux submitted copies of current licenses, approvals, and certificates of inspection for each of its programs.
2.3 EEC Licensure
102 CMR 3.00
(Residential programs only) / / Documentation
Review / Devereux submitted current, full licenses from the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) for its Residential and Westmeadow programs.
8.5 Current IEP & Student Roster
28.09(5)(a) / / Documentation
Review
Student Record Review / Devereux has on file a current IEP for each enrolled Massachusetts student that has been issued by the responsible school district.
For any unsigned IEPs, the program has documented its efforts or steps it has taken to work with the sending public school district(s) to obtain current, signed IEPs.
11.3 Educational Administrator Qualifications
28.09(5)(a); 28.09(7)(a);
603 CMR 44.00 / / Documentation
Review / Devereux submitted the name of its educational administrator, who meets all of the requirements under this criterion.
11.4 Teachers
(Special Education Teachers and Regular Education Teachers)18.05(11)(f); 28.09(5)(a); 28.09(7)(b, c); 34 CFR 300.321 / / Documentation
Review
Staff Record Review
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted a current teacher staff roster for each of its programs indicating the name, title, role of each teacher in the program, grade level being taught, subject area being taught, and copies of ELAR activity sheets for each teacher.
11.5 Related Services Staff
28.09(7)(d) / / DocumentationReview
Staff Record Review
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted a current staff roster for all related service providers for each of its programs which includes the provider’s name, title, role in the program, and a copy of the provider’s license issued by the Massachusetts State Board of Registration. / .
11.6 Master Staff Roster
28.09(7) / / Documentation
Review / Devereux submitted a current master staff roster for each of its programs that aligns with the last approved Program Budgets.
19 Anti-Hazing
M.G.L. c. 269, §§ 17 through 19 / / Documentation
Review
Student Record Review / Devereux submitted a copy of its anti-hazing policy and documentation of students’ receipt of the program’s anti-hazing policy approved by the Board of Directors.
20 Bullying Prevention and Intervention
M.G.L. c. 71, s. 37H, as amended by Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010. M.G.L. c. 71, s. 37O(e)(1) & (2). M.G.L. c. 71, s. 370(d) / / Documentation
Review
StaffRecord Review / Devereux submitted a copy of its Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, a description of how it was distributed, and a description of the professional development plan developed by the program for all staff for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.
Identified Areas of Non-Compliancefrom the Previous Program Review or Other Areas of Concern
1.2 Program & Student Description, Program Capacity / / DocumentationReview
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted a detailed narrative that describes all of the requirements under this criterion.
6.4 School Day Per Year / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews / Review of documentation and staff interviews indicate that the Day Program is operating as a 12 month program as approved.
8.4 Program Modifications and Support Services for Limited English Proficient Students / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted a written policy that contains all of the requirements under this criterion.
In addition, review of documentation and staff interviews indicate that staff is aware of the requirement to accept and serve Limited English Proficient (LEP) students.
9.1 Policies and Procedures for Behavior Management / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted a written policy that contains all of the requirements under this criterion.
In addition, review of documentation and staff interviews indicate that the current policies and procedures for behavior management are implemented consistently between each of its programs.
9.4 Physical Restraint (Day Programs Only) / / Documentation
Review / Devereux Day Program submitted a written policy that contains all of the requirements under this criterion.
10.1 Staffing for Instructional Groupings / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews
Observations / Devereux submitted block schedules that clearly display the numbers and initials of students, and the numbers and initials of certified educators and aides in all classrooms for all periods throughout the school day.
In addition, review of documentation and staff interviews indicate that staff is aware of the approved student: licensed educator ratio of 8:1 and the approved student: licensed educator: aide ratio of 9:1:2.
10.2 AgeRange / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted block schedules for every classroom and every period including the initials of students with corresponding dates of birth indicating that the ages of the youngest and oldest child in each instructional grouping does not differ by more than 48 months.
11.9 Organizational Structure / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews / Review of documentation and staff interviews indicate that the organizational structure of the program provides for the effective and efficient operation of the school, supervision of school staff, and supervision of students.
12.2 In-Service Training Plan and Calendar / Partial / Documentation
Review
Staff Record Review
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted a copy of its 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 in-service training plans and calendars. / Partial / Review of staff records indicated that staff attendance at some of the required in-service trainings was not consistently tracked or documented in all of the staff files that were reviewed. / Devereux must develop a tracking system to ensure that all staff attend the required in-service trainings and that attendance is consistently documented in staff records.
In addition, Devereux must review a random sample of fifteen (15) staff members to ensure that all of the required trainings are documented in staff records. Please submit the results of this review to the Department by December 15, 2011.
13.4 Physical Facility/
Architectural Barriers / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews
Observations / Observation of the physical facilities indicates that the residential home for PDD boys is now accessible for students with limited physical mobility.
15.1 Parental Involvement and Parents’ Advisory Group / / Documentation
Review / Devereux submitted documentation indicating that its Parents’ Advisory Group now meets to advise the program on matters that pertain to the education, health, and safety of the students in the program.
15.3 Information to be Translated into Languages other than English / / Documentation
Review
Student Record Review
Staff Interviews / Devereux submitted a written plan that describes how it will ensure that important school information is sent to parents or guardians with limited English language skills in a timely manner and provided to them in a language that they understand, either through written translations of documents or through oral interpreters.
15.5 Parent Consent and Required Notifications / / Documentation
Review
Student Record Review / Student record review indicates that annual consents are consistently maintained in the student records.
16.2 Physician Consultation / / Documentation
Review / Devereux submitted the name and address of the licensed physician employed/contracted by the program, as well as a description of the services provided to the program.
16.11 Student Allergies / / Documentation
Review
Staff Interviews
Observations / Observations and staff interviews indicate that student allergy information is updated frequently and is consistently shared with staff and posted in appropriate locations.
18.1 Confidentiality of Student Records / / Documentation
Review
Observations / Observations indicate that student medical records are kept separately in the nursing office and include a complete log of access.
The Devereux Foundation, Inc.Mid-cycle Review Report
November 8, 2011
Page 1 of 16
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Devereux Foundation, Inc.
Day Program
a PRIVATE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM operated pursuant to
603 CMR 18.00 and 28.09
60 Miles Road, Rutland, MA 01543
Program Rate Based on: 19 Students
Approved Enrollment: 40 StudentsDay Program / Residential Program
Summer Program / 10 month program / 11 month program / 12 month program
APPROVED STUDENT:LICENSED EDUCATOR RATIO:8:1
APPROVED STUDENT:LICENSED EDUCATOR:AIDE RATIO:9:1:2
APPROVAL STATUS
FULL APPROVAL
Expires on: August 31, 2015
The current approval is a result of a Mid-cycle Reviewconducted in the 2011-2012school year and the next review is scheduled for the 2014-2015 school year.
Kerri zeldis, EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST, Program Quality Assurance Services
Caryn N. goldberg, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, DIRECTOR, Program Quality Assurance Services
Date issued: November 8, 2011
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Elementary and Secondary EducationThe Devereux Foundation, Inc.
Residential Program
a PRIVATE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM operated pursuant to
603 CMR 18.00 and 28.09
60 Miles Road, Rutland, MA 01543
Program Rate Based on: 17 Students
Approved Enrollment: 17 StudentsDay Program / Residential Program
Summer Program / 10 month program / 11 month program / 12 month program
APPROVED STUDENT:LICENSED EDUCATOR RATIO:8:1
APPROVED STUDENT:LICENSED EDUCATOR:AIDE RATIO:9:1:2
APPROVAL STATUS
FULL APPROVAL
Expires on: August 31, 2015
The current approval is a result of a Mid-cycle Reviewconducted in the 2011-2012school year and the next review is scheduled for the 2014-2015 school year.
kerri zeldis, EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST, Program Quality Assurance Services
caryn N. goldberg, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, DIRECTOR, Program Quality Assurance Services
Date issued: November 8, 2011
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Devereux Foundation, Inc.
Westmeadow Residential Program
a PRIVATE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM operated pursuant to
603 CMR 18.00 and 28.09
60 Miles Road, Rutland, MA 01543
Program Rate Based on: 92 Students
Approved Enrollment: 92 StudentsDay Program / Residential Program
Summer Program / 10 month program / 11 month program / 12 month program
APPROVED STUDENT:LICENSED EDUCATOR RATIO:8:1
APPROVED STUDENT:LICENSED EDUCATOR:AIDE RATIO:9:1:2
APPROVAL STATUS
FULL APPROVAL
Expires on: August 31, 2015
The current approval is a result of a Mid-cycle Reviewconducted in the 2011-2012school year and the next review is scheduled for the 2014-2015 school year.
kerri zeldis, EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST, Program Quality Assurance Services
caryn N. goldberg, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, DIRECTOR, Program Quality Assurance Services
Date issued: November 8, 2011