Watertown Commission on Disability

As part of its accountability system—Coordinated Program Review System (CPRS)—the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) oversees local compliance with State and Federal special education laws, including Chapter 766 and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), State and Federal civil rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other State and Federal Requirements. This is done in a six-year cycle with a mid-cycle Special Education follow-up.

In March of last year the DOE conducted a Coordinated Program Review of the Watertown Public Schools (see the full report here: www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/reports/2006/0314.doc).

Areas assessed were: Assessment of Students, Student Identification and Program Placement, Parental Involvement, Curriculum and Instruction, Student Support Services, Staff and Administration, School Facilities, Program Plan and Evaluation, and Record Keeping.

The results, released just before Thanksgiving are dismaying: of the 59 categories assessed, Watertown was in full compliance in only 19. That means Watertown failed to meet the standards in 40 categories, or 67%.

Under DOE’s Coordinated Program Review System (CPRS), local school districts that fail to meet the standards must propose corrective actions to bring those areas into compliance with the respective statutes or regulations. According to the report, Watertown Public Schools must submit an Action Plan for corrective actions by January 11. Watch this space for the Action Plan once it becomes public.