29 January, 2016
Dr. Cathy MacLeod, Superintendent of the Hopkinton Public Schools was informed by the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education of an upcoming Coordinated Program Review that will be taking
place this school year. As part of this Coordinated Program Review, Department staff will visit the district
during the week of March 14, 2016 – March 18, 2016. Such visits are routinely conducted by the
Department to satisfy federal and state requirements for the periodic review of specific education
programs and services in schools throughout the Commonwealth. The Department is reviewing several
programs during a single visit in order to use Department and school staff’s time most efficiently and to
encourage strong connections among the programs.
The Department's Coordinated Program Review will address the following programs: Special Education,
English Learner Education (ELE), Civil Right and Other General Education Requirements. After reviewing
school district procedures for these programs, a Department team will make its onsite visit, during which it
will review individual student records, interview administrators, teachers and paraprofessional staff,
survey parents and observe instructional spaces. After the onsite visit it will prepare a report for the
superintendent and school committee [or charter school leader and board of trustees], with detailed
findings for each program.
Using a scale of ratings ranging from “Commendable” to “Not Implemented,” the report will rate the
implementation of each requirement reviewed by the Department. Where requirements are found not
implemented or only partially implemented, the district [or charter school] must propose to the Department
corrective action to bring those areas into compliance with statutes and regulations. Districts and schools
are encouraged to incorporate the corrective action into their district and school improvement plans and
professional development plan. The school district [or charter school] will be provided with technical
assistance from the Department in developing a corrective action plan. Both the Department’s report and
the corrective action plan are public information and will be available to the public upon request. Program
Review Final Reports are also available on the Department’s Internet website at
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) 417-9360
no later than February 15, 2016, to leave their name and phone number, or they may call the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Education at (781) 338- 3742 (number for onsite chairperson, Corey
Steinman). A member of the visiting team will contact each person desiring an interview within two
weeks after the completion of the onsite visit. If an individual is not comfortable communicating in English
or requires some other accommodation, the Department will make arrangements to communicate
appropriately with the individual.
