How bad is our DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? See below complaint and Commissioner's update at the bottom with link
QUINN SCHOOL forces kids to take the MCAS and if they miss it they must make it up (PQA FILED) see the info below.
Refusals to Take an Assessment:
As the spring assessment administration nears, please keep in mind that participation in statewide assessments is required of all students enrolled in public schools in the relevant grade levels. The state assessments provide important feedback to families, teachers, administrators, and state policymakers as to where schools are succeeding and where schools and districts need to enhance their efforts.
In some instances, a student may refuse to take a test, either of his/her own volition or at the direction of a parent. In these cases, we ask principals to encourage parents to rethink their refusal and remind them that the assessments are a valuable gauge of their student's and school's progress. We ask principals and test proctors to handle refusals with sensitivity. Students should not be pressured to take the test, nor should they be punished for not taking the test. They may sit quietly and read in the testing room, but if they are distracting others in the class who are taking the test, it would be appropriate to have them move to another location in the school with adult supervision. There is no requirement to provide formal or informal instruction to these students during the test period; having them do homework or read a book is sufficient, provided that the material is separate from the content being assessed in the testing room.
For students who refuse to take MCAS paper tests, no special reporting is needed. If no answer form is submitted for a student or if a blank answer form is submitted, the student will automatically be considered absent. For students who refuse to take the PARCC test on paper or on a computer, the test administrator will need to go into Pearson Access Next to manage the student's account and mark them as Not Tested, Absent, for each test they refused to take. Additionally, if the student started an online test session before refusal, that test will need to be marked complete by the test administrator. The Department strongly suggests that the test administrator document the student refusal and keep it on record at the school in case questions arise later about the school's participation rate.
See full information from Commissioner Chester at:http://www.doe.mass.edu/commissioner/?update=1%2F29%2F2016Andover - If you think that this does not happen in Hudson you are dreaming. Just listen to EX Hudson Superintendent Sheldon Berman's comments and the finance committee (all about money not your child's education) listen to at 1:26 to 1:30; Sounds like predetermination and class action suit waiting to happen.
The DESE's CPR has found several districts out of complaince due to having SPED STAFF on the IEP's.
603 CMR 28.06(2) (a)
(2) Determining placement. At the Team meeting, after the IEP has been developed, the Team shall consider the identified needs of the student, the types of services required, and whether such services may be provided in a general education classroom with supplementary aids and/or services or in a separate classroom or school. The Team shall consider all aspects of the student's proposed special education program as specified in the student's IEP and determine the appropriate placement to provide the services. The Team shall determine if the student shall be served in an in-district placement or an out-of-district placement and shall determine the specific placement according to the following requirements:
(a) The decision regarding placement shall be based on the IEP, including the types of related services that are to be provided to the student, the type of settings in which those services are to be provided, the types of service providers, and the location at which the services are to be provided.
Timeline in order below:
Complaint filed: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/PQA%2013_0029.pdf
The attached letter to the complaint: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/PQA%2013-0029.pdf
DESE letter to Kevin Lyons Superintendent: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/pac%20pqa%20complaint.pdf
Letter from Hudson’s attorney to PQA: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/hudson%20attorney%20pac%20pqa%20complaint.pdf
H-SEPAC’s response: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/Response%208%2027%202012.pdf
Attorney’s response August 28th: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/PAC%20letter%20PQA%20dated%20August%2028%202012%20from%20lawyer.pdf
H-SEPAC’s response to attorney: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/MSowyrda%20August%2031%202012.pdf
Hudson's attorney Letter to PQA February 23, 2012 https://www.hudsonsepac.com/pac%20letter.pdf
Hudson attorney’s letter to PQA September 6th: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/pac%20letter%20sept%206%202012%20from%20lawyer%20PQA.pdf
PQA Findings: https://www.hudsonsepac.com/PQA%2013_0029/pqa%20complaint%2013%200029%20Findings.pdf
CORRECTIVE ACTION:
An email was sent out this morning 10/5/2012 regarding SPED STAFF and how to get it corrected on your childs IEP. See link below:
https://www.hudsonsepac.com/Important%20SPED%20STAFF%20%20email.pdf
Should you have any issues resolving this or need to speak with us regarding this please contact us.
DESE Response for clarification on their decision...Unbelievable response and they are responsible for our children's education:
I want to thank all the parents that have come forward to file this complaint!
If there are any other parents out there that wish to be part of this complaint it is not too late!
Contact us!