DESE Reviewing Winthrop Public Schools in New Year

Special to the Transcript

During the week of January 3, 2022, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Winthrop 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 review chairperson from the Office of Language Acquisition 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 contribute to the monitoring report.

Parents and other individuals may call Lori Gallivan, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Accountability at (617) 846-5543 ext. 4125 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 Winthrop Public Schools with a report with information about areas in which Winthrop meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which Winthrop requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.