Contact: Brent Merten
Director of Special Projects
Community Day Charter Public School
bmerten@cdcps.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Day Charter Public School to be reviewed by the Office of Public School Monitoring during triannual visit.
Lawrence, MA (March 10, 2023) – During the week of March 20, 2023, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Community Day Charter School
(CDCPS). The Office of Public School Monitoring visits 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.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.
Parents and other individuals may call Moses Nduati, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338-3707 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide Community Day Charter Public School with a report with information about areas in which Community Day Charter Public School meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which Community Day Charter Public School requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.
About Community Day Charter Public School
Community Day Charter Public Schools (CDCPS) is a public charter school in Lawrence, Massachusetts housed in multiple campuses throughout the city. CDCPS serves students in Kindergarten through grade 8 and offers safe, supportive, structured learning environments in which students thrive. An extended day and small classes with support for English language learners yield outstanding academic results. We strive to celebrate our city’s rich cultural heritage and the vibrancy it brings to our schools. The CDCPS is managed by The Community Group.
About The Community Group
Established in 1970, The Community Group (TCG) creates, manages, and nurtures high quality programs focused on education and related services. Partnering with families and the larger community, TCG prepares infantschool-agedchool aged children for bright futures. Thousands of children from several generations have benefited from the programs offered by TCG throughout the years and TCG programs continue to grow and evolve to meet community needs.
More About The Community Group
The Community Group was founded on the principle that quality early education and care are essential to equity and opportunity. Since we opened as a single preschool center in 1970, the Community Group has grown to meet the changing needs of Greater Lawrence with award-winning educational programs for children and families and robust training and professional development for educators.