PPS Press Release 📝

During the week of March 25, 2024 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Plymouth Public Schools. The Office of Public School Monitoring reviews 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.

Parent outreach is an important part of the review process. Prior to the review, the chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send an online survey to all parents of students with disabilities receiving IEP services. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the activities of the onsite review and the development of the final report. The survey will be available on January 16th, 2024.

The chairperson will also conduct a Parent Orientation meeting to explain the review process and provide parents with an opportunity to ask questions. Parent Orientation will be held on January 24th, 2024 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM EST and will take place via Zoom.

ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83438146245?pwd=UCtxR085ZUtETWh1OUVhR3FvRDlhQT09

Meeting ID: 834 3814 6245

Passcode: 531305

During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring reviews student records and conducts interviews, including interviewing the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) chairperson, as well as district administrators and staff. After the conclusion of the review, the public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports.

Parents and other individuals may call Julie Evans, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338-3754 to request additional information, or contact Cheryl DeLorey, Interim Special Education Director, at (508) 830-4343.

During the week of April 1, 2024 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Plymouth Public Schools. 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, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report. Parents and other individuals may call Judith R. Magliore, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson at 781-338-3571 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the (district or charter school) requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.