Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School to conduct review of Fall River Public Schools

Fall River, MA. – Superintendent Maria Pontes has announced that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring will be conducting a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Fall River Public Schools during the week of January 22, 2024. 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.

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 focusing on key areas of their child’s special education program. The results of the survey 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 with district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.

Parents and other individuals may call Julie Evans, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338-3754 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 the district with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district 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/.